If wishes were horses – Leatherhead resident’s wish comes true

Home news

Oct 09, 2019

A resident at a care home in Leatherhead saw her wish to spend time with her favourite animals come true.

Care UK’s Milner House care home, on Ermyn Way, took resident Iris Muncaster, 79, on a trip down memory lane during a special horse visit.

A lifelong animal lover, Iris, who moved to Milner House in October 2018 and is living with dementia, started volunteering at the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in her early twenties. For over two decades, she helped muck out the stables, taught horse riding and carriage driving, and helped with many fundraising events for the centre. A keen rider herself, she also regularly attended horse shows.

As part its Wishing Tree initiative, the team at Milner House encourage residents to submit wishes, no matter how big or small, whether they’re related to something they’ve never been able to do, or something they’d like to do again.

Iris had made a wish on the home’s wishing tree to be with horses again, so the home got busy organising a special afternoon for Iris to be reunited with her favourite animals by contacting the Diamond Centre, where she used to volunteer. As her condition did not allow Iris to leave the home, the team brought the horse to her, by welcoming Daisy, a coloured cob, into Milner House for an afternoon.

Joe Patterson, home manager at Milner House, said: “We always like to go the extra mile for residents here at Milner House, and like to make their wishes come true, no matter how big or small.

“Animals, and especially horses, have always played a major part in Iris’s life, and we’ve heard countless stories about her commitment and dedication from her friends at the Diamond Centre. When we found out she wanted to be with horses again, we immediately contacted them to arrange a visit. It was wonderful to see Iris reunited with her favourite animals once again, and it was a fantastic day for everyone involved.”

The three-storey care home, which features 47 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities, and also has a hairdressing salon and café.

For more information about the home, please call customer relations manager, Roy Booth, on 07918 045883, or email roy.booth@careuk.com

For general information about Milner House, visit careuk.com/milner-house