Tats a new one! Care home resident gets first tattoo at 77

A care home resident from Tettenhall decided to make her teenage dream come true and get her first tattoo. 

Helen Allen aged 77, and a resident at Care UK’s Foxland Grange, on Wergs Road, has always wanted a tattoo, since admiring her late partners, who was a biker. Keen to fulfil her dream, Helen braved the needle – much to her enjoyment.

When Foxland Grange became a Care UK care home in January 2022, the team installed a Wishing Tree, an initiative launched by Care UK which allows residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit and activities they’d like to do. This encourages residents to live fulfilling lives – from flying a plane to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

After always regretting not getting a tattoo during her teenage years, Helen decided to add her request to the home’s wishing tree.  

Local tattoo studio, Someink Different, were happy to make Helen’s wish a reality, and offered to help free of charge. With her design chosen, a small butterfly which Helen has always admired, Helen wasted no time jumping in the tattooist’s chair. 

Commenting on the experience, Helen said: “I don’t know why I didn’t get it done sooner – or why people say it’s painful! Although it’s hard to describe the feeling, I wouldn’t call it painful. Garth, the tattooist, made me feel so at ease, and I couldn’t believe how quick it took. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

The butterfly tattoo was placed on Helen’s right arm and the design was chosen and then adapted by Garth, co-owner, at Someink Different.

Chelsea May, Director of Community Relations at Foxland Grange, said: “When Helen put a wish to get a tattoo on the wishing tree, it was a real surprise and something we didn’t expect but we couldn’t wait to start organising it for her. 

“Here at Foxland Grange, we like to help residents complete lifelong wishes. We encourage residents to dream big and share their hopes and ambitions. We hope Helen inspires others to make their dreams a reality, no matter their age.

“I would like to thank tattooist Garth and the team for helping to organise the wish – this is one butterfly that Helen can keep forever!” 

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Foxland Grange, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents. 

For more information on Foxland Grange, please call Director of Community Relations, Chelsea May, on 01902 275 507 or email chelsea.may@careuk.com.

For more general information, please go to careuk.com/foxland-grange.