COMPASSIONATE care staff shouldered the coffin at the funeral of a client they visited four times a day.

Nineteen carers from Swindon Caring Heart Carers, a small firm that provides home visits to patients in the Swindon area, all attended the funeral of Rosaline Galbraith, who died aged 83.

Rosaline lived with vascular dementia and needed daily support with her personal care, meaning she was visited four times a day by staff, who grew close to her over a period of more than two years.

On the day of her funeral the company rearranged its rota so that all 19 staff members who had worked with her could attend to say a final farewell.

As the coffin was brought in to the service at the Kingsdown Crematorium four members of staff, who met the right height requirements – and still wearing their uniforms from the day’s shift – helped carry Rosaline’s casket in.

Tina Jung, manager and owner of Swindon Caring Heart Carers, told the Adver: “Rosaline was an amazing lady. Whoever went into her house, she just made you smile.

“They did it because they thought the world of her.

“It’s important to us that our clients get the best, even at the end. That’s what our care company is here for.”

The company visits to elderly patients, often to very tight time limits, and in a sector which is well known to suffer from low pay.

Tina added: “It is very emotionally and physically demanding. But my team are in it because they really care about the people they visit.We were in there four times a day looking after her.

“Anybody that we do lose, the main carers will always go to the funeral, and normally the managers.

“We’re a small company, just covering Swindon only as far as Cricklade. I don’t want to take away the personal touch.”

The team also still drop in on the family to make sure they are managing after Rosaline’s death.

“Since my mum died they still come in to check to see if I’m ok and make me a cup of tea if they have a gap in between appointments,” added daughter June.

“One of them even took me to the hospital when I had to go in for a prolapsed disc.

"There’s no other company like them, and we have used three or four over the years.

“They really are caring hearts.”