Colchester care home residents have wishes come true

 

Wishes really do come true for residents at a care home in Thorrington.

When the team at Care UK’s Silversprings, on Tenpenny Hill, learned of 98-year-old resident Irene Barrett’s love for shire horses, they were determined to make her wish of seeing one up close come true. 

Having lived next to a pub in London when she was a teenager and seeing a Drayman deliver beer to the pub on shire horses, Irene instantly fell in love with them and told the team at Silversprings that she’d love to see one again. 

Keen to make Irene’s wish a reality, the team arranged a visit to Kyloe Farm. There, Irene was joined by her daughter Joan, and together they spent the morning feeding carrots to two shire horses, Teddy and Bobby, and petting donkeys. As a souvenir from her visit, the team at Kyloe Farm gave Irene a photo of the horses taking the winning place at the local county show, which is now in her room. 

Commenting on her visit to Kyloe Farm, Irene said: "It was a wonderful day, they are such magnificent creatures. I loved watching them go past my house and to the pub when I was younger. I had the best day at Kyloe Farm.”

Always keen to make residents wishes come true, next it was the turn of 86-year-old resident Ray Sparrow who wished to visit his old bowls club, The Brightlingsea Club, with his old teammates.

Ray began playing bowls aged 57 and has won numerous trophies which are on display in his room.

As well as playing bowls, Ray used to look after the green at the club. Returning for the day, Ray was joined by his family and old teammates for a game, followed by a coffee and catch up. 

 

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

Joanne Rix, Home Manager at Silversprings, said: “It was wonderful to make not one, but two wishes come true. Our Wishing Tree initiative provides residents with an opportunity to share their passions and ambitions, and it’s incredibly rewarding to make their dreams a reality.  

“Ray often playing bowls in the garden with other residents, so it was wonderful to see him enjoying himself at his old club along with his old teammates and family.

“For Irene, her passion for shire horses is something that we often talk about, and we were thrilled to be able to arrange such a special day for her and her daughter. It's been lovely to hear her telling the other residents about her trip to Kyloe Farm. I want to say a huge thank you to Nicola Manders, the owner of Kyloe Farm, for making Irene’s day so special.”

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