Renowned entertainer Sir Norman Wisdom cherished the idea of spending his twilight years at his cherished Isle of Man residence, Ballalough, which is Gaelic for “house of laughs.” However, due to advancing Alzheimer’s, his family made the difficult decision in July 2007 to transition his care to Abbotswood, a private nursing home in Ballasalla. Sir Norman remained at Abbotswood until his passing on October 4, 2010, at the age of 95. Despite his battle with dementia, the beloved comedian continued to delight the staff and fellow residents with his characteristic humor. In recognition of his enduring spirit, he was later commemorated with a plaque at the Royal Variety Charity’s Brinsworth House, a care home dedicated to entertainers.

While the specific costs of Abbotswood are not explicitly listed online, the average fees for private care homes in the UK hover between £950 and £1,270 per week. Assuming a rate of approximately £1,000 weekly on the Isle of Man, Sir Norman’s 38-month residency likely amounted to around £38,000. This figure underscores the substantial financial commitment often required for such care.

Insights from a Mail On Sunday article painted a picture of Abbotswood’s environment, describing it as having a linoleum floor and a room equipped with a hospital-style bed, alongside modest plastic furnishings, including two chairs, a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers. Despite this simplicity, the facility offers dementia care for up to 62 residents simultaneously, highlighting its capacity to accommodate those in need.

One noteworthy feature of Abbotswood is its pet-friendly policy, allowing residents to bring their animal companions with them, providing a comforting sense of home and continuity amidst the transition to nursing care.

Residents are also allowed keep their pets when they move into the facility.

However, a decade after Norman’s death, disaster struck after 20 residents died following an outbreak of coronavirus in 2020, police confirmed at the time.

A criminal probe was launched in June 2020 after concerns were raised about Abbotswood Nursing Home in Ballasalla.

The Department of Health and Social Care stepped in to run the home on April 13 and residents were moved out the following month.

In December of that year, it was revealed that five people had been arrested but all five were later released from police bail.

In a letter to residents’ relatives, the force said it had investigated offences of gross negligence manslaughter, ill treatment and neglect under the Registration of Care Act, but no case would be pursued.