Robot dogs, hair dos and crumble: What care home life can be like
BBCIt is the small things in life that can make a big difference.
When Angela Martens moved into Cambridge Court Care Home two months ago, it was only natural that her family would be anxious about what the future held.
But it was the thoughtful gestures like serving a brew in her mum's china cup and cooking her favourite meals, which helped to alleviate those worries.
"I was full of anxiety when she came in – all of us were - but it soon ebbed away," said her daughter Leonie Williams.
"I just felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
"I know my mum is safe and that's the most important thing for us here because she wasn't safe at home."
The care home, which is rated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is situated in the Waterloo area of Liverpool.
It is currently home to 52 residents – of which 12 are self-funded, paying between £1,100 and £1,500 per week.
The only vacant room is currently being redecorated with a new resident to move in shortly.
On a Wednesday morning in April, it is all systems go as staff serve residents their lunch of soup and a sandwich followed by crumble and custard.
There are 60 staff members who work at the care home on various shifts.
Among them is Sarah Clarke, who has worked at the care home for six years.
"I'm very passionate about these people. I want to give them the best and the dignity and the care that they deserve," she said.
"They've worked all their lives, they've raised their kids, they deserve to be treated with that dignity and respect."
But the job inevitably has its own challenges.
"It isn't just making cups of tea, it isn't just pad changing, it's an emotional labour," she said.
"Last winter, we had a period of three months where we lost I think it was 12 residents.
"Some residents had been with us for nearly 10 years and it was a really arduous time for the staff because we spend more time with these residents than we do with anyone else in our lives."
Dotted around the different rooms are pet companions – robotic toy cats and dogs - to help comfort residents and on the wall is a sign which reads: "We work in their home".
This is a motto the staff endeavour to live by and it has not gone unnoticed.
Moira Crist, whose mother moved into the care home 10 years ago, said she was the "happiest she could possibly be" after being diagnosed with dementia.
"The staff are very good and what I'm really impressed with is their ability to entertain the residents without upsetting them and getting everybody involved.
"It's great to see my mum laugh even if she doesn't know what's going on."
This is reiterated by 84-year-old Alfred Fairclough, whose wife Maureen moved into the care home three years ago.
"The nurses are brilliant here. They earn every penny. They deserve more," he said.
In the purpose-built hair salon, resident Sally Harrop is reminiscing about the time she spent in America while getting her hair cut by hairdresser Nicola Craven.
Her drink of choice has been poured into a wine glass to really give the feel of a hairdressers.
In the afternoon, there will be a live singer performing songs from years gone by.
Stories of inadequate and failing care home are often in the headlines.
Alena Petrie, regional manager for Unity Homes, said she had agreed to let the BBC North West Tonight cameras into the care home to help change the image of social care.
"No-one is looking at how important is it. I feel like we are forgotten and there is no positivity about care homes," she said.
"We often hear negative stories, which care home has closed, where the CQC has been and it wasn't a good visit.
"We don't hear the positive things – and there are loads of positive things in care homes."
She said she hoped by opening up the doors that it would show the importance of care homes.
"It's not a well-paid job, so it's not seen as a good job or an important job," she said.
"So unless this changes, there's not much hope to change this image of social care."
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