‘Just keep walking – no marathons necessary!’ Frome resident reveals the secret to a long life on her 100th birthday

A resident at a care home in Frome has shared the secret for living a long and happy life on her 100^th birthday.

A very special birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Rossetti House, on Welshmill Lane, when resident Ethel Eileen Sarah Bailey, known as Eileen, turned 100 years ‘young’. 

 

To mark the occasion, Eileen revealed her secret was to ‘just keep walking’, stressing that marathons are not necessary so long as you stay active daily. 

To celebrate, the home decorated the lounge with balloons and banners, and the home’s talented head chef baked a special birthday cake for everyone to enjoy. 

Eileen was born on 26^th April 1922 in Newport, South Wales, and moved to Frome in 1926 at the age of four. Elieen’s first job was working at the Express Dairy, before later working in finance at a local electrical shop. 

As the daughter of a dressmaker, Eileen quickly became skilled in knitting, crochet and embroidery which she continues to enjoy to this day. A keen traveller, Eileen has visited much of Europe, including going to Germany in the Spring of 1945, and has also travelled around much of the United Kingdom in her beloved Mini. 

Phil Vale, General Manager at Rossetti House, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do here at Rossetti House, and we always like to throw a party for special celebrations – and Eileen’s 100th birthday was no exception.

“We were inundated with birthday cards, including one from the Queen, which Eileen particularly enjoyed – although everyone at the home made sure she was treated like royalty herself. It was lovely to raise a glass to Eileen on her special day.” 

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Rossetti House incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been designed to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

For more information on Rossetti House, please call Home Admissions Advisor, Helen Cross on 01373 887988, email helen.cross@careuk.com or visit: careuk.com/rossetti-house.