St Ives care home resident’s wish delivers night to remember

A care home in St Ives has proven it’s never too late to try something new…after granting one resident a request that was a little out of the ordinary.

When the team at Care UK’s Field Lodge, on London Road, asked resident Angie Hutchinson what she would like to wish for, she knew exactly what she wanted.

Angie, 72, told the team she wanted to see a performance by a male stripper – something she had never experienced before.

The home’s team pulled out all the stops and set to work researching local performers, with Angie selecting the exact one she wanted.

To ensure the event really raised the bar, the team transformed the home for a special cocktail night complete with glittering decorations, a cocktail menu and a buffet, creating a party atmosphere for Angie and her fellow residents to enjoy ahead of the performance.

Angie said: “I really enjoyed it and I didn’t want it to end!”

Angie’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.

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, said: “Granting wishes is an important part of life here, and Angie’s request certainly kept us on our toes!

“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 evening and it was wonderful to see so many smiles around the room.”

Field Lodge is a modern, purpose-built care home providing full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to lead active and enjoyable lives, the home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, as well as its own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon.