Chester care home residents’ wishes made a reality

A Chester care home resident and retired golfer was delighted when she had the chance to rekindle a life-long passion.

When the team from Care UK’s Deewater Grange, on Chester Road, discovered that 83-year-old resident Eileen Wagstaff had spent 45 years playing golf, and was once the captain of Tunshill Golf Club, they were determined to take her on a trip down memory lane with a visit to the local driving range.

Eileen, who was born in Rochdale, has always loved keeping active and being outdoors in the fresh air, so when, aged 30, a friend suggested she should try golf, she quickly fell in love with the sport. 

Eileen then went on to spend 45 years playing golf at the Whittaker, Springfield Park and Werneth Low Golf Clubs, as well as playing in South Africa when she visited her son Mark. Her success also saw her become the Ladies Team Captain at Tunshill Golf Club. 

On the day, Eileen visited Sandfield Golf Course and Driving Range and got to try her hand at driving, wedging and putting. Eileen, who likes to refer to the golf course as her happy place, said: “I was thrilled with the opportunity to visit the driving range and loved swinging my clubs again. I loved being the Ladies Team Captain, these were my happy days.”

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 on plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Eileen shared some words of encouragement to those who have never tried golf before: “If you’re undecided whether golf is for you, I would say just give it a go, what have you got to lose, you just never know until you try, and if nothing else, it gets you out in the fresh air enjoying nature, and is great exercise”. 

Sally Cooper, Home Manager at Deewater Grange, said: “Eileen loves to share her memories of playing golf in her younger years, and when she told us she wanted to try her hand at golf once again, the team knew they had to make it happen. 

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a brilliant way for residents to share their dreams and interests and enable them to reminisce on their younger years. Eileen has had an incredible golfing journey, and always shares exciting anecdotes with the team, so it was an special moment to see her face light up when she tee’d off once again.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team here at Deewater Grange, as well as to Sandfield Golf Course and Driving Range, for helping to make the Eileens wishes come true!”

Deewater Grange is a state-of-the-art home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care. The home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities, including its own café, bar, cinema as well as a hair and beauty salon. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.