People across the country celebrate milestone birthdays in style
29 Apr 2022
3 min read
The past two years have been a time of milestone birthdays for many people who draw on care and support. While we may not have been able to celebrate birthdays in the usual way care workers have been pulling out the stops to make sure birthday celebrations were still special for the people they support.
Rita’s 100th birthday
At Friends of the Elderly’s RNNH Care Home in Bournemouth, Dorset, one of its residents, Rita Crumplin, has been celebrating her landmark 100th birthday which was topped off with a wonderful surprise treat – a visit from her son Paul, who flew all the way from Australia to share in his mum’s special day.
Rita’s milestone birthday was a rollercoaster of surprises, not only with the amazing visit from Paul, but she also received her commemorative telegram from Friends of the Elderly’s Royal Patron, HRH Her Majesty, The Queen.
Two days before her 100th birthday, the care home team started the celebrations with a pre-birthday party with all Rita’s care home friends. Rita was showered with flowers, gifts, and cards – as well as enjoying a birthday cake. Rita’s festivities continued on her actual ‘centenary day’ with a family outing for a birthday lunch at a local golf club.
Alan Johnston, the Care Home Manager at RNNH said:
We are all so glad Rita had a wonderful 100th birthday, she’s a special lady and we wanted to show her how much she means to us.
Rita said:
I had a really lovely 100th birthday, it was a very special and memorable day. Seeing Paul and all the family was magical. I thoroughly enjoyed my wonderful lunch and afternoon birthday tea. I could not have wished for a better day.
Jean’s 100th birthday
Jean had mentioned to her care worker that she would be spending her 100th birthday alone as she didn’t have many relatives and they didn’t live close by.
Hearing this the team at Complete Care at Home wanted to do something special for Jean and asked the local community to send cards.
They created a special team of care workers all with specific roles to create a lockdown birthday to remember.
The team had meetings to discuss and liaise with Jean how she would like to celebrate her day. They decorated her house and garden with banners, took flowers and cake that had been delivered for Jean by the local community, and arranged for her to receive the Queen’s birthday card. In total she received over 500 birthday cards.
They also arranged for a special meal for Jean and an opera performance in her garden. The local news even covered the celebrations.
Jean said:
I can’t thank the team enough; they have done so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Barbara’s 101st birthday
At Friends of the Elderly’s New Copford Place care home in Colchester, Essex, the care team celebrated Barbara Purves’ 101st birthday with gifts, cards and a special birthday afternoon tea treat complete with music and singing with her care home friends.
Camilla Korgba, the care home’s Activities Coordinator, said:
Everyone here at New Copford Place wanted to make sure Barbara had a wonderful, unforgettable 101st birthday. Barbara is a fun, lovely lady who likes to get involved with our activities.
Barbara said:
I had a really lovely 101st birthday, it was a very special day. I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday tea, not only the delicious birthday cake, but all the music, singing, laughter and chatter, it really made my day.
Blanche’s 101st birthday
At Friends of the Elderly’s Little Bramingham Farm care home in Luton, Bedfordshire, staff and residents celebrated ballroom-lover Blanche Fromenton’s 101st birthday with a special afternoon tea with her family.
Blanche said:
I have had a really wonderful 101st birthday, it’s been a lovely day. Seeing my family and care home friends, having a smashingly delicious afternoon tea, chatting, and laughing, it has been wonderful. It’s definitely a day I’ll never forget.
Emma Lawrance, Care Home Manager at Little Bramingham Farm said:
All the care team wanted to make sure Blanche had a fantastic and memorable 101st Birthday. She’s such a lovely lady who always has a smile for everyone, she’s such a well-loved, friendly and caring member of our Little Bramingham Farm family. We’re so glad Blanche has enjoyed her special day, we wanted to make it special for her to show just how special she is to us.
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