CELEBRATIONS are in order for a Solihull care home whose long-serving members of staff have clocked up 328 years.
Ardenlea Court Bupa Care Home is thanking 21 colleagues who have dedicated more than 10 years caring for residents and those in need of short-term, respite care.
One devoted member of the Lode Lane team is Eileen Smith, who joined the team in 2005 as a Housekeeper.
She’s enjoyed attending garden parties to entertain and lift the spirits of residents and doing her bit to support associated charities, such as leading memory walks for Alzheimer’s Society and hosting Macmillan coffee mornings.
Michelle Lunt has been a registered nurse at Ardenlea Court for 18 years, having previously trained and worked within the NHS. She said: “Every day is different and there are always new things to learn – even nearly 20 years into the role.
“We have a strong team here at Ardenlea Court, we’re always pulling together to care for our residents and give them the best life possible, as that’s the most important thing.”
Another long-standing member of the Bupa team is activities coordinator, Nirmal Kaur who has been with the home since 1997, starting as a kitchen assistant and moving into the activities team after 20 years.
She says: “It’s a very rewarding job. We create a friendly atmosphere in Ardenlea Court and get along extremely well as a team, thanks to the wonderful managers who have supported us. I believe this helps us do our jobs better and makes us enjoy coming to work every day.
“One of my fondest memories is enjoying hosting afternoon teas for residents and their families.
“I also organised a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for Silver Sunday in October 2019, hiring a ukulele band for the occasion and dressing up to give residents a memorable afternoon.”
