A purr-fect day for Newmarket care home resident

A resident at a care home in Newmarket felt like the cat that got the cream after a very special visit.

Barbara ‘Tommy’ Miller, who lives at Care UK’s Kentford Manor on Jeddah Way in Kennett, has loved cats all her life.

Her first, Toots, appeared on Christmas morning when she was just eight years old and since then, cats have always been a constant source of companionship. Over the years, she has cared for many beloved felines, including Badger, Sienna, William, Daisy and Emerald.

With the team at the care home noticing cat toys and teddies in Tommy’s room, conversations arose about her lifelong love and her wish to spend time with them again.

So, ahead of Tommy’s 90^th birthday, team members organised a day out to Meow Cat Café in Colchester for Tommy to visit with her daughter Denise and Kentford Manor’s Lifestyle Lead, Kate.

Tommy was in her element as she called the cats over, gently petted them and smiled as she played.

She said: “The cats were beautiful and I felt really happy.”

Tommy's experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which allows residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. This encourages residents to lead fulfilling lives – from skiing to a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Hannah Nurse, Home Manager at Kentford Manor, said: “It was wonderful to see Tommy so happy and fully engaged with the cats during her visit.

“The Wishing Tree is all about making sure residents feel listened to and empowered to enjoy new experiences, and this was a great example of that. It was a brilliant day and seeing Tommy so content and present in the moment brought joy to everyone involved.”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and rewarding lives, while also promoting independence, Kentford Manor incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities. The home is thoughtfully arranged into smaller suites to create a close-knit, welcoming community where residents can enjoy spending time together, with welcoming shared spaces including a cinema room, café and hair and beauty salon.