Care home residents say it with flowers

FRIDAY was an emotional day for staff and residents of Rectory Field Residential Home on Limavady Road, as they gathered to say goodbye to long-time colleague and friend Mabel Armstrong.

Having clocked up an impressive 32 years at the home, as both a care assistant and senior care assistant, Mabel has decided to call it a day.

Mabel finished her last shift on Thursday last, July 15, but came back to the home on Friday for her formal goodbye, when she was presented with a card and crystal vase, which was inscribed, from the staff, and residents presented her with a huge bouquet of flowers. Among those to attend the event were the current staff at the home, the catering staff, support services and care staff as well as management, former employees who worked alongside Mabel also returned for the day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reflecting on her career in caring, Mabel said she had not yet had time to adjust to the fact that she would no longer have to undertake shifts.

"It will be quite a change. In work we do 26-hour shifts," she said, adding: "It will take me a long time to get used to lying in, I'm not used to it, I'm one of those people who likes to be up."

However, retirement also has its benefits and Mabel, who is a keen gardener, said her garden would be "a priority".

"I just want to thank all the staff for supporting me through the years. There have been so many people who have been generous and helpful to me. The residents have been a great bunch and I have loved working with them. I have seen lots of people come and go over the years and I always tried to give of my best to them."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added: "I just want to thank everyone for the gifts that they have given me, and thanks all the staff and ex-members of staff and managers for coming to my retirement party. It is very much appreciated."

Manager at the care home, Dolores Moran, paid glowing tribute to her colleague and confided that she was "really going to miss her".

"Mabel has worked here for 32 years beginning as a care assistant and becoming a senior care assistant in 1996, which is a management position.

"The home has a great reputation and she contributed, as part of the management team, to the high standards of care. I have been working alongside Mabel for the past 14 years as manager here and it has been a pleasure to work with her. Over the years we have developed a great working team, a very happy and strong working team," she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Moran said the priority within the home had always been for the care of the residents and what was best for them, and this had always been reflected in Mabel's work.

"Although she would be a quiet person she is strong in her views and very organised and management oriented.

"We are absolutely going to miss Mabel because she has been so much a part of the furniture of this place. It will be strange without her," she added.

Related topics: