The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home

Refreshing look at life in a nursing home. Being an older person, the possibility of going into a facility is a bit scary. This book shows how you can adjust and make the most of each day.

Enjoyed it all. Hope Icarus made it ok having finally found freedom from his cage. Takes all sorts to make a world.

EXCERPT: Hattie

Never one to dwell on the past, Hattie Bloom hurried from hers – the last few days of it, at least – and headed for the waiting taxi. She wouldn’t look back, determined to put the whole unfortunate episode behind her. There were only so many sing-alongs, only so many games of carpet bowls and bingo that a sane person could endure. Legs eleven? She’d settle for two that actually worked.

The taxi driver held the small plastic bag of Hattie’s belongings and her walking stick while she wrestled her unyielding limbs into the back seat. He was in his fifties, or perhaps forties after a hard life, and smelled strongly of onions. With his sweat-stained shirt and open- mouthed breathing, he wouldn’t have been her first choice, but Hattie couldn’t afford to be picky when it came to getaway drivers. This was, after all, her one and only chance to escape from Woodlands Nursing Home.

ABOUT ‘THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM WOODLANDS NURSING HOME ‘: At nearly ninety, retired nature writer Hattie Bloom prefers the company of birds to people, but when a fall lands her in a nursing home she struggles to cope with the loss of independence and privacy. From the confines of her ‘room with a view’ of the carpark, she dreams of escape.

Fellow ‘inmate’, the gregarious, would-be comedian Walter Clements also plans on returning home as soon as he is fit and able to take charge of his mobility scooter.

When Hattie and Walter officially meet at The Night Owls, a clandestine club run by Sister Bronwyn and her dog, Queenie, they seem at odds. But when Sister Bronwyn is dismissed over her unconventional approach to aged care, they must join forces — and very slowly an unlikely, unexpected friendship begins to grow.

MY THOUGHTS: Joanna Nell writes with her usual wit and warmth about the perils, pitfalls and joys of old age. Her books are proof that just because you may have lost the use of your legs, your mind hasn’t necessarily accompanied them.

To Hattie, eighty-nine, reclusive retired ornithologist, human behaviour is a mystery. So when she finds herself in a residential ‘care’ home following a fall from a ladder while trying to save a family of endangered owls, she is like a fish out of water and can think only of escaping back to her dilapidated but comfortable home where all is quiet and peaceful, apart from those pesky new neighbours. She has nothing in common with the other residents (prisoners), who are either loud and gregarious, or somnolent zombies. But that’s before she meets Sister Bronwyn, the night nurse who puts the ‘life’ back into assisted living, and who shows her that there is far more to her fellow ‘inmates’ than she could possibly guess.

If, like me, you have ever dreaded ending your days ‘in care,’ where you may feel like you’re ‘out of sight, out of mind’, this may give you another perspective. It is a reminder that these people have not always been frail of body and/or mind; that they have lived full and productive lives, that they have stories to tell if we only take the time to listen, and that while they are still breathing, there’s always time for one more adventure.

Like all of Joanna Nell’s books, The Great Escape From Woodlands Nursing Home is written with warmth, wit and empathy about people who could be us in a few years time. I found it very easy to relate to Hattie, and I could quite imagine one of my brothers as the golf mad, cheesy, loud, Walter. I laughed, cried and laughed some more, and as I closed the cover of this delightful read for the final time, I wondered what the author has in store for us next.

.9

#TheGreatEscapeFromWoodlandsNursingHome #NetGalley

‘What’s the point of having his stomach stapled shut if his mouth still opens?’

‘However old you feel, tomorrow it will seem young.’

THE AUTHOR: Joanna Nell is a UK born writer and doctor. Her short fiction has won multiple awards and has been published in various journals and literary anthologies. In 2016 she was awarded a residency at The Bundanon Trust. Her bestselling debut novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village was published by Hachette Australia and Hodder & Stoughton (UK) in 2018.
A former ship’s doctor, Joanna now works as a GP with a passion for women’s health and care of the elderly. She writes character-driven stories for women in their prime, creating young-at-heart characters who are not afraid to break the rules and defy society’s expectations of ageing.
Joanna lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and as the mother of teenagers enjoys long walks with her dog and talking to herself.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia for providing a digital ARC of The Great Escape From Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Another wonderful insight into old age, from the author who brought us The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, which yet again manages to be simultaneously achingly sad and uproariously funny, ulceratingly tense and brightly hopeful.

Here, we visit Woodlands Nursing Home with Miss Hattie Bloom, in what she fervently hopes will be a fleeting experience. Finding herself somehow trapped in this unfamiliar environment, where everything is regimented and her precious independence is airily discounted, Hatties only refuge is in feeding the birds until she discovers the Night Owls a secret, late-night social club where the elderly residents can finally demonstrate their hard earned skills and capabilities without someone trying to force them back to bed.

Its a shame then that Hatties new acquaintance, Walter, manages to accidentally scupper her escape hopes and get the Night Owls shut down before shes even had a chance to really get going there. Still, Hattie and Walter are definitely not the giving up and going gently sorts and so they find themselves highly unlikely allies in a covert battle to escape their prison, avoid their medication, surprise their friend, and reinstate the Night Owls. Its a good job people tend to underestimate the elderly!

Joanna Nell captures old age realistically, in all its ups and downs. She shows us the terrible indignities, aches and distresses that come with losing, not only your physical strength/health, but also your personhood in the eyes of the world, your identity, hobbies and profession, your right to make decisions on your own behalf. Then she balances that bleak reality by also revealing the mischief, camaraderie, fond memories and new friends and experiences that comes when your body is old, but your heart and mind dont realise it.

The word heartwarming could have been coined especially for this novel (and Joanna Nells whole ouevre). She takes the small incidents of everyday life and makes you laugh, cry and bite your nails anxiously. Reading The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home put the fear of inevitable old age into me, then deftly removed its sting and left the sweetness highly recommended.

‘Its as if the usual laws dont apply in aged care, said Murray. Its a case of out of sight, out of mind. Even prisoners of war have the Geneva Convention.
Its not as though were completely helpless though, is it? Both Walter and Murray turned to look at Miss Bloom. Everyone expects so little of us, expects us to be completely incapable. Thats our secret weapon. Our disguise, if you like.
Go on, said Walter.
We could use it to our advantage.’

Joanna Nell, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

For me this was a very difficult book to read, because it brought back so many memories of a much loved Aunt incarcerated against her will in a care “home” for four years. Unlike the characters in the book she never came to terms with being there, for us it was a nightmare. The book illustrates all that is wrong with care for the elderly, care homes say that it is the residents “home” but do not allow the residents any choices about meals times, social activities, their personal time tables, Hattie was told getting up at 10am was lazy – not when you naturally go to bed at 1am! Even worse the decisions made about repairing Hattie’s house, without telling her, it was so harrowing to read when she discovered that her beloved tree was gone . The rebellious characters clearly show their frustration and manage to resolve the issues, which was enjoyable to read. This book should be read by anyone considering putting someone in a “Home”. My thanks to Joanna Nell for so cleverly telling the story of care home from the residents point of view.

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