Care home resident gets first tattoo at 89yrs old!

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

Dorothy France, 89, a resident at Care UK’s The Burroughs, on Mill Road, has always wanted a tattoo. Keen to fulfil her dream, Dorothy braved the needle – much to her enjoyment.

At The Burroughs, 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, Dorothy decided to add her request to the home’s wishing tree.  

Local tattoo studio, Jodie’s Tattoos in Slough were happy to make Dorothy’s wish a reality, and offered to help free of charge. With her design chosen, a small cartoon dog, named Snoopy, Dorothy wasted no time jumping in the tattooist’s chair. 

Commenting on the experience, Dorothy said: “I now have my boy Snoopy with me forever, I wish I had done it sooner! I can’t wait to get another one in a few weeks’ time. I wasn’t expecting it to be so quick – especially after waiting 89 years! Maybe I should get one on my bum next!”

The Snoopy dog tattoo was placed on Dorothy’s left arm and the design was chosen and then adapted by Jodie of Jodie’s Tattoos in Slough.

Bozena Szczepaniak, Home Manager at The Burroughs, said: “When Dorothy 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 The Burroughs, we like to help residents complete lifelong wishes. We encourage residents to dream big and share their hopes and ambitions. We hope Dorothy inspires others to make their dreams a reality too, no matter their age.

“I would like to thank  Jodie the tattooist and Alison our activities team for helping to organise the wish – this is one pet that Dorothy can keep forever!” 

The Burroughs is a warm and welcoming care home which provides full time residential and dementia care, as well as short term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has it very own cinema and hairdressers, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation. The home has a comprehensive activity program, offering a mix of themed events, group activities and days out.