A Newton Mearns care home is making residents’ dreams come true, with the introduction of a Wishing Tree.
The activities team at Mearns House Care Home introduced the Wishing Tree at the start of the year, following ideas and feedback from meetings with residents.
Every resident has the chance to write down a wish, such as favourite activity, a trip out, a special meal, or reconnecting with a hobby, and place it on the tree. Throughout the year, the Mearns House team is selecting one or two wishes each month to make come true. All wishes are reviewed and approved to make sure they’re safe and achievable, then the team works together to bring them to life.
Over the last few months, residents have gone from the sea to the skies as their dreams have become a reality.
One of the first to have their wishes granted was Ian McNaught. Ian’s wish was to visit Deep Sea World, and he chose his friend Donald to share the experience with him. Ian and Donald explored the wonders beneath the waves, taking in all the marine life. A highlight of the day was a show and tell session, where they learned more about the animals up close, followed by the much-loved seal show.
Speaking about the experience, Ian said:
“I’ve always loved fishing and being by the sea, so getting the chance to visit Deep Sea World and see all the fish up close meant so much to me. The trip to North Queensferry was really special, and it’s a day I’ll never forget.”
Another special occasion was for Joan McCallum, Maureen Orr and Isobel Campbell who went for a visit to Ingliston Country Club to enjoy a horse tour together. With the Grand National taking place on the same day, the experience was extra special, bringing an added sense of excitement and atmosphere to the outing.
Following the animal theme, Alistair Mitchell, John Ferguson and Donald Mack wished to learn more about birds of prey. They took a trip to Strathblane Birds of Prey, where instructor, Graham, shared his knowledge and enthusiasm with them, before the gents had the opportunity to hold and fly the birds.
John said: “Seeing the birds of prey up close was a truly unforgettable experience and one that I’ll always remember with great happiness.”
While many of the wishes have included excursions, others have been focused on hobbies closer to home. John is also a proud member of the Queen’s Park Camera Club and has spent a lifetime capturing the world through his camera. For his wish, he requested the time to share his photo slides with others at Mearns House, inviting the team and residents to experience the world through his eyes.
John said:
“Photography has always been a huge passion of mine, especially through my camera club, so having the chance to capture such amazing moments made the day incredibly special for me.”
Resident, Donald joined the session and explained: “He has a terrific sense of colour… watching the slides makes me want to go to the places he’s photographed.”
The tree will stay up all year round, so new residents will always have the opportunity to take part, and everyone will continue to be included.
Kirsty Craig, Care Home Manager at Mearns House said:
“The Wishing Tree is something really special that we’ve introduced at the heart of our home. We invite every resident and their loved ones to take part – if there is something they’ve always wanted to do, see, taste, try, or experience, we suggest they write it down and place it on our tree. We love celebrating the passions, talents and life stories of the people who live with us, so getting to learn more about their wishes and then getting to make some of those come true is wonderful.
“This activity is all about creating joy, sharing experiences, and making meaningful memories together. It’s brought a real excitement to the home this year, and while not all residents get to take part in every wish, we all get to share the joy in hearing about it and discussing what we’ll do next. The activities team have done an incredible job creating this initiative and then working out how to make dreams come true – well done to all of them for their hard work and fairy dust!”
Mearns House is run by one of Scotland’s most trusted providers of elderly and specialist care, Meallmore Ltd. Last month, Meallmore was named in the Top 20 Large Care Home Groups across the UK for the first time and is recognised for excellent standards of care for its residents, including those living with dementia.
Celebrating its 40th year in business this year, Meallmore currently operates 27 homes across Scotland: 21 for older people, five for adults with mental health needs and one for adults with learning or physical disability. Three new homes are in development, which will provide services for elderly people in Aberdeen City, Broughty Ferry and Clarkston.
