Care Home Staff Move Mountains For Their Residents
Staff from De Brook Lodge care home in Flixton have literally moved mountains for their residents, as they climbed the highest mountain in Wales, Mount Snowdon. Five members of staff including Home Manager, Helen Johnson, took part in the climb, which saw them walk eight miles in seven hours to raise money for the residents’ fund.
The idea came after De Brook Lodge Care Assistant, Andrea Byrne, attempted the ascent earlier in the year, but unfortunately had to abandon her efforts due to injury. She resolved to try again and decided to enlist the support of her colleagues from the home, and also to raise money for the residents’ fund at the same time.
The team completed considerable training for the climb and were really excited, especially knowing that the residents would benefit from the monies raised. The fabulous five climbed up the Pyg track and took the Llanberis path down, stopping for a cold class of Prosecco to celebrate when they reached the summit. Tammy Brooks, Care Assistant at De Brook Lodge and part of the climb team said, “I felt all different emotions when I reached the top – relief, pain, happiness, accomplishments, you name it, I felt it! And it didn’t stop there, we had to climb down again! But we worked as a team and we made it – it feels amazing to have raised so much money for our residents.”
Back at De Brook Lodge, the residents couldn’t be prouder of the team. Betty Slater said “We are so grateful to them all. It is a brilliant amount of money and we will certainly spend it wisely. I couldn’t climb a mountain, but they did, and they did it for us.” So far the group has raised £750, and the residents have decided to purchase a juke box for the home amongst other things.
De Brook Lodge, which is operated by Ideal Carehomes, provides residential and dementia care for 52 residents and is committed to offering them aspirational lifestyle choices. Breaking down the pre-conceived perceptions of care home life, their residents enjoy an active social environment with events, trips and daily activities on offer.
