A TRAFFORD businessman who grew disillusioned with his parents’ treatment in care has swapped his banking career to set up a new company.

Mark Collier launched Heritage Healthcare at Trinity House in Sale after seeing his mother, Beryl, receive inadequate support while suffering with dementia.

Joined by son, Michael, the duo are now part of a small, dedicated team on a mission to raise the bar in home care.

“The care my mum and dad received was appalling,” said Mark. “Carers didn’t turn up on time and the standard was very low.

“I just thought: ‘you know what; I can do this better’.

“Live-in care is going to become more popular,” says Mark. “People don’t want to go into residential homes.

“My mother ended up in one. I’d visit and she would be wearing odd socks. You walk in and it breaks your heart.

“Our ethos is very much a real tailored service. If it’s Mrs Smith’s birthday, for instance, then on her birthday we will get her a cake.”

Mark sees Heritage as an antidote to ‘sell it cheap, pile it high’ care homes and says the business struck lucky employing Sandra Owen, who was about to call time on here 20 plus years in caring after becoming disillusioned with the industry.

“I was working for an agency and I was disgusted with the care people were getting,” she said.

“You had carers cutting corners and not doing half of the tasks.

“I took the job with Heritage because they seemed to be so passionate and so honest about wanting to get care done properly.”

Heritage will use live data to respond immediately respond to a user’s concerns.

They’ll also pay carers the living wage, encouraging high staff retention in a business that requires continuity.

“There’s no point in a service user not having continuity, especially if they have dementia. You need the service user and the carer to develop a good relationship,” highlights Michael, who will lead a five day residential training programme with Sandra.

Thereafter, carers will be matched to a suitable user to ensure friendship flourishes.

With plans to host bingo nights and Christmas dinners at nearby Trinity Methodist Church, Heritage are keen to be part of community life, as well as the lives of individuals.

Mark adds: “It’s a privilege for us to go into people’s homes.

“We’re not selling care; we’re selling trust, first and foremost.”

For more, visit heritagehealthcare.co.uk/trafford or call 0161 711 0750.