Barbara’s special boating surprise
At Oaklands, we believe in creating unforgettable moments for our residents. Organising special trips and surprises is one of the many ways we enrich their lives, promoting their well-being and fostering a sense of joy and connection. These activities allow residents to relive cherished memories, spend quality time with family, and engage in new, exciting activities that bring our community closer together.
With this in mind, we surprised our lovely resident, Barbara, by taking her and our other residents for a wonderful afternoon out on the Solent, on the local charity boat, the Alison MacGregor. What made the day even more special was that her son and daughter in-law were volunteering and crewing the vessel!
Barbara was absolutely delighted to see her family waiting to welcome her and the other residents onboard. It was such a heartwarming moment to see her face light up at the wonderful surprise. We’re impressed that everyone managed to keep it a secret for so long! Barbara’s family were thrilled to be able to take Barbara and the other residents on a very special outing. One of our residents, in particular, used to enjoy sailing and loved being back on the open water.
Everyone had a wonderful time, taking in the scenery and admiring the massive ships out on the water. We were lucky enough to see the Queen Mary and other impressive cruise ships, as well as the Southampton Boat Show and the iconic landmarks of Southampton. The weather was glorious and it was lovely to get out in the fresh air!
Reflecting on the trip, our resident Barbara said: “I had a lovely time, especially seeing my son and daughter-in-law again.”
Our carer, Gazala, added: “I had not been on a trip in the UK before and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you everyone for giving me the opportunity to go on the trip.”
We’d like to thank our wonderful team for organising this very special outing, and to Barbara’s family for a very memorable and smooth crossing. We can’t wait to take the waters again soon!
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to see our latest activities. To arrange a visit to our person-centred home, call 02380 845759 or email info@oaklandsresthome.co.uk