Care Home Residents to be Granted Wishes
Staff at the charity run care centre in Essex asked their residents to hang a handwritten note asking for something that they would really love to receive on a ‘Wish Tree’ and much to all the residents absolute delight the first wish has been granted - a kitten who will live at Edensor.
Diane Groom, 72, placed her wish which said “I would love to have a cat to love and care for” on the tree and was over the moon when hers was the first wish to be granted and ‘Dave’ a tiny little tabby kitten arrived to live permanently at the Care Centre.
Lindsey Milliken, Deputy Manager, Edensor Care Centre, said, “When I suggested that we create a ‘Wish Tree’ at Edensor I had no idea quite the impact it would have. Our new kitten Dave has made a huge difference to the atmosphere in the Care Centre and seeing the residents faces light up when he is about is magical. He is bringing immense joy and happiness to residents and staff. We are absolutely delighted that Clacton Pet Store has donated some toys and food for our new housemate.
“The staff also added a wish to the tree inspired by one of our residents, a young man, Simon Keyes, 34, who was with us for end-of-life care. On the day before he died, I was taking him along the sea front, when he told me that he would love to go on the beach to feel the sand and be taken to the water’s edge to put his feet in the sea. Not being able to do this for him was heart breaking and I knew that we needed to fundraise for a couple of beach wheelchairs to ensure that in future we would be able to take our residents on to the sand.”
Other wishes on the tree included, to go and see West Ham play and tour the stadium, to have a round of golf and to go ten pin bowling, and one resident simply wanted to walk in the rain.
The Charity run Care Centre hopes to make all the wishes happen by the end of the year and is hopeful that the local community will step in to help them achieve this. If you would like to donate towards the Edensor’s wish for two beach wheelchairs that will allow residents to go on to the sand, please visit our Just Giving page here.
To find out more about Edensor which is run by the charity Diagrama visit www.diagramafoundation.org.uk and if you could help to make a wish come true, please call the Edensor team on 01255 423317
About The Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama is a charity which supports vulnerable people through residential care, adoption and fostering across the south east of England. The foundation has three small care homes for adults with learning disabilities, a 48-bed care home for elderly with nursing and dementia needs, three homes for vulnerable young people and a Supported Living Service.
Many vulnerable people live a joyless existence without hope and without a true identity or understanding of what is possible to achieve in life.
Diagrama know that when someone has time and belief invested in them they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
By making the effort to discover the real individual within you can build trust and unlock their hidden potential, igniting a renewed sense of hope and ambition for their life otherwise lost.
Diagrama's dedicated team provides person-centred, solution-focused services for vulnerable children and adults, because everyone deserves the chance to live their best life possible.
For more information, to arrange interviews or to request images please contact:
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