Brunelcare Resident Turns 106-Years-Old

Dora Banfield, a resident at Brunelcare’s Deerhurst Care Home located in Speedwell, turned 106-years-old at the beginning of July. Dora has been a resident with Brunelcare for two-years and celebrated her milestone with an outdoor garden visit from her daughter, Mary.

Dora was born in 1914 and has lived through two World Wars. She was born in Kent and educated in Essex, she lived for 29-years in Taunton and now calls Bristol and Brunelcare’s Deerhurst Care Home, her home. Dora was brought up on a farm and later was in the Land Army, she became a teacher, an artist and had a book published when she was 93 years old all about how to be an artist. Dora has a total of three children, eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Deerhurst Care Home was the first of Brunelcare’s care homes to offer outdoor, socially distant garden visits to resident family and friends. As of July 1st, loved ones can now visit on a one-on-one basis for 30 minute meeting slots across all five of Brunelcare Care Homes.

Mary said: “I was so pleased to see Mum on her birthday, what a special time we had! I can hardly believe we have a Mum who is 106-years-old! I thought she looked very well. I wanted to thank everyone at Deerhurst Care Home for making her birthday such a special occasion. The awning was a cosy place to sit and the decorations were bright and cheerful. Deerhurst Care Home really did go above and beyond to accommodate us and ensure mum had a special day.”

Oona Goldsworthy, Brunelcare CEO said: “We are so thrilled we could celebrate Dora’s special day with her and her family. Our Deerhurst care home really did pull out all the stops to ensure Dora and her family had the most magical day as possible during these unprecedented times. We have extraordinary people giving extraordinary care across our five care homes.”