‘See life as a gift’ – Local care home resident reveals the secret to a long life on 100th birthday

A resident at a care home in Sway celebrated her 100^th birthday by sharing the secret to a long and happy life. 

A very special birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Sway Place, on Church Lane, when resident Freda Smith celebrated her 100^th birthday in style. To mark the occasion, Freda revealed her secret to longevity is to “see life as a gift from God”. 

To mark the big day, the team at Sway Place decorated the home’s bistro area with balloons and banners, and the home’s talented chef baked a special birthday cake for everyone to enjoy. 

Freda was born on the 20^th of July 1923 in East Boldre. Although still at school, Freda started her working career at the age of 14 scrubbing floors and earning money for herself and her family. She then went on to work in Wellworthy Factory for 29 years, where she inspected pistons for cars. 

Freda really enjoyed her job she said the best thing about working was the “comradery and the people who have remained lifelong friends.”

Freda married Eric Smith in 1958 when she was 35 years old. They were happily married for 40 years. 

Jane Baxter, Home Manager at Sway Place, said: “Freda is a ray of sunshine here at Sway Place, and it was wonderful to help her to celebrate this impressive milestone.

“We work hard to support residents to lead fulfilling lives here at Sway Place, and marking special occasions and birthdays plays a huge part in this. We love any excuse to celebrate the amazing people living here at Sway Place and Freda’s birthday was no exception. 

“Freda is a much-loved resident at the home, and we are privileged to have her as part of our Sway Place family.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Sway Place incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home provides full-time residential care, dementia care and respite care. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, and 14 independent living cottages, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.

To find out more about Sway Place, please call Laura Blake, Home Admissions Advisor, on 01590 607371, email laura.blake@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/sway-place