Catch of the day! Edinburgh care home resident’s wish to learn to fish comes true

A resident at a care home in Edinburgh had the chance to fulfil her lifetime wish to learn how to fish.

Florence Jones, aged 88 and resident at Care UK's Lauder Lodge, on Wakefield Avenue, shared her passion for fishing and asked her home team to help make her wish come true.

Florence spoke fondly of her memories of going to the River Tweed to fish with her grandad when she was growing up, and wished to be able to catch a fish for herself. 

On the day, Florence and the team travelled to Newhaven Harbour where Florence got the chance to fulfil her wish to learn how to fish. Florence spent the morning learning how to hold the rod and cast the line into the water, and was delighted to have caught not one but two fish.

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

Florence said: “I had a wonderful day and the memories will stay with me forever – catching two fish was amazing!”

Anees Riaz, Home Manager at Lauder Lodge, said: “Our day trip to the harbour was one for the books and Florence was a real natural – there’s no doubt we’ll still be talking about it for weeks to come.

“Here at Lauder Lodge, we always encourage residents to continue to enjoy their favourite pastimes and share memories which hold special importance to them, as it’s a great way to encourage reminiscence. Florence talks affectionately of her memories going fishing with her grandad and never having had the chance to learn for herself, so we knew we had to make it happen.

“We’re so pleased we were able to organise this nostalgic trip for Florence, she was over the moon to be reeling in two fish – her smile said it all!”

Lauder Lodge is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its own café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Lauder Lodge, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Richard Annan, on 0131 516 4006, or email richard.annan@careuk.com.

For more information about Lauder Lodge, visit careuk.com/lauder-lodge