93-year-old Stroud care home resident returns to the dancefloor

A Stroud care home resident was delighted when her wish to take to the dancefloor again was made a reality.

When the team at Care UK’s Scarlet House, on Westward Road, learned that 93-year-old Dorothy Robinson was an avid ballroom dancer in her younger years and was keen to dust off her dancing shoes, they were determined to make her wish come true.

As a child, Dorothy’s mother taught her to dance and she quickly fell in love, dancing whenever the opportunity arose and attending regular dances with her friend and dance partner, Harold. In her younger years, Dorothy worked in Weston-super-Mare and would regularly attend dances at The Winter Gardens in her spare time.

To help fulfil Dorothy’s wish, the team arranged a special trip down memory lane for Dorothy, taking her back to The Winter Gardens for an evening of ballroom dancing. Putting her best foot forward, Dorothy proved she still has the moves, dancing the evening away with her son, Deryck.

Commenting on the experience, Dorothy said: “I had a wonderful time – it was such a special evening to be able to dance with my son again!”

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Suzannah Tullett, Home Manager at Scarlet House, said: “Everyone here at Scarlet House knows how much Dorothy loves to dance – she’s even taught a few of her fellow residents to Waltz! When the team learned that Dorothy was keen to take to the dancefloor again, they were determined to make her wish come true.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and passions, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Dorothy had a wonderful evening – she didn’t stop smiling and it was incredible to see her in her element.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team here at the home for organising such a meaningful trip for Dorothy and her son!”

Scarlet House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.