Dear Sir,

About a week ago there was a Letter to the Editor with a number of criticisms of the Agape House hospice.

We were then at the point of arranging for my mother to be transferred from the Catlin/Lindo ward at the hospital into Agape, so, naturally, that letter raised some red flags for us.

Were we making the right choice to move her there?

Mother was relocated to Agape last Thursday morning and although her time there was brief, as she passed away on Saturday, I cannot express how wonderful the staff were to her and to us at this difficult time.

Yes, Agape is in an old Bermuda building not in the best condition. The room she shared had three beds, with one remaining empty.

It was very clean and her bed linens were in very good condition. Yes, there was just a curtain surrounding her bed, so if privacy was your main concern, then it wasn’t ideal. For us, though, and with Mom in the condition she was then in, it worked.

I liked the homey touch of a bright afghan on the foot of her bed, and the large glass door and clean windows ensured the room was nice and light. The large family of the other patient sharing the room were wonderful and a comfort, as they had someone there at all times to remain with their family member and assured us they, too, would keep an eye on my mom when we could not be there.

The Agape staff, too, were regularly in and out of the room checking on their patients. They were very cheerful, kind and helpful in answering my questions.

My understanding is Agape is run by the Bermuda Hospitals Board and also depends in large part on donations from the community to supplement its funding.

I would believe, with our ever-ageing population, that demands for its use will be increasing in the future, and so would encourage those who can give to support its fundraising efforts.

In closing, thank you to the Agape staff and volunteers who touched ours and my mother’s life recently and to the wonderful family of her roommate.

To the Catlin/Lindo team, your care and kindness are very much appreciated.

MARGARET CROUCHER aka “PEGI”