Aberdeen care home resident returns to the ice

An 85‑year‑old resident at a care home in Aberdeen has revisited her lifelong passion for skating decades after she first discovered the sport as a child.

When team members at Care UK’s Tor-Na-Dee on North Deeside Road in Milltimber, learned that Cynthia wanted to return to the rink, they were determined to make her wish come true.

They quickly got in touch with the Linx Ice Arena, who were only too happy to invite her to their skating session.

After wrapping up warm, Cynthia was taken onto the ice and completed laps around the rink. 

She said: “I can feel all the memories coming back! It was fantastic. My favourite part was getting to stand on the ice again and I’m going back to practice next week!” 

On the way home, Cynthia reminisced about her early skating days, recalling how she was first introduced to the sport. At the age of five, Cynthia contracted pneumonia, and her doctor suggested she try ice skating to build up her strength. From her very first lessons, she fell in love with the sport, enjoying performing with others at the rink.

Cynthia retained her love of skating throughout her life, even after having a family – skating when possible, attending ice shows and watching competitions. In the 1970s, she introduced her seven‑year‑old daughter, Karen, to Richmond Ice Rink the same rink where she had first learned. Karen went on to skate competitively in the US and Aberdeen, while Cynthia continued to skate recreationally alongside her.

The family tradition carried into the next generation when Cynthia’s granddaughter Emily took up skating in Aberdeen in 2010. Emily competed in synchronised skating teams in Aberdeen and Australia before becoming a coach later on. 

Cynthia loved watching her daughter and granddaughter perform and is proud that her passion has inspired two generations.

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put forward their goals and allows them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new.

Susan Ashton, Home Manager at Tor-Na-Dee, said: “Cynthia’s love of skating has always been part of her story, so it was wonderful to hear how much she enjoyed being back on the ice.

“Hearing her stories of introducing her daughter and granddaughter to the sport made the day even more special. 

“We’re always looking for ways to bring joy and meaning to our residents’ lives, and this was one of those moments that reminded us why we do what we do.”

Tor-Na-Dee provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to lead enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, hair and beauty salon and gardens, and there is plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.