Celebrating EL’s Birthday with SCA Care
We recently celebrated EL’s birthday, a day she was genuinely thrilled about and happy to have her story and photos shared.
Typically, EL has three to four-hour long visits per week. However, on this special occasion, SCA Care had arranged with EL to extend the visit to double the usual time as a birthday treat. Although EL had experienced moments where she contemplated cancelling her birthday celebration, it wasn’t due to a fondness for the day itself. Instead, her hesitations stemmed from her role as her husband’s caregiver and the recent loss of her father.
In fact, earlier that day, our SCA Carer even received a text from EL expressing her desire to cancel both the visit and her birthday altogether. Fortunately, the SCA team has developed a close working relationship with EL, understanding her particular behaviours and recognising that there are often underlying triggers. Despite the text, we proceeded with the visit, providing EL with an opportunity to express her emotions freely.
During our conversation, EL shared that she missed her father dearly and felt guilty about enjoying herself outside the house while her husband remained house-bound. After our heart-to-heart, EL agreed to venture out to Westquay, with the understanding that we could return home at any time if needed.
Once we arrived at Westquay, a remarkable transformation occurred within EL. She became noticeably more relaxed and began embracing the excitement of the day. We indulged in a delightful lunch at the Global Buffet, a rare treat for EL since she typically shares meals with her husband. The vast array of options brought her great joy.
Knowing EL’s love for reading, we visited a bookshop where she savoured moments immersed in a book, accompanied by a refreshing drink. We also explored a few shops together, and EL decided to pamper herself with some new clothes. Time seemed to fly by, and it was heartening to witness how EL had forgotten her earlier urge to hurry home. Throughout the day, she repeatedly expressed her delight, proclaiming it to be the best day ever and emphasising how much she relished her birthday celebration.
As a thoughtful gesture, EL was gifted a bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear tin filled with sweets and treats. The joy on her face upon receiving these surprises was truly priceless. As the evening approached, around 7pm, EL grew eager to return home to her husband. She wanted to share with him the incredible day she had experienced and expressed her contentment in being able to relax after such an eventful day.
EL has specifically requested that we convey her heartfelt gratitude to the entire SCA team for their efforts in organising her visits, allowing her the opportunity to enjoy a memorable outing on her birthday.