Henbrook House Helps Resident Fulfil Lifelong Dream With Special Visit To RAF Hendon

Henbrook House care home in St Neots, recently took resident Fred Dawson on a trip to the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon. He was accompanied by several enthusiastic friends from the home to see some of his favourite military memorabilia up close.

A lifelong enthusiast for World War II aircraft, Fred is finding it increasingly difficult to study the subject due to visual impairment caused by macular degeneration. Struggling to see the pictures in his much-loved books, the staff decided to bring those images alive for Fred by helping him to experience them directly.

Brian Moore, Events Manager at Henbrook House who attended the trip, reflects:
“The trip to Hendon was such a lovely day out with Fred and the gang. These kinds of visits not only boost morale, but they also help residents step out of their comfort zones by rediscovering old passions. Seeing their happiness and excitement is incredibly rewarding, and it only underlines for us why resident-led care is so crucial.”

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition which tends to start affecting people in their 50s and 60s. Whilst it does not cause total blindness, it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult. About a quarter of a million people in the UK have severe impairment or blindness due to advanced AMD

By organizing the visit, the staff at Henbrook helped Fred fulfil his dream of visiting the museum before his vision deteriorates further. This brand of resident-led care is a crucial part of Henbrook’s approach, though unfortunately it is often neglected in the UK care sector.

James Chandler, Customer Relationship Manager at Henbrook House, comments:
“Most of the care industry tends to gaslight resident-led approaches to care, despite many examples of it working wonders. By listening to our residents and prioritizing their individual dreams and interests, we create bespoke activities that truly enhance their quality of life. We firmly believe this model of personalised care is the future of the industry; and we look forward to continue putting it into practice at Henbrook”.