Woodlands Elderly Persons Care Home in Fleet are celebrating 40 years since the home opened.
To start the celebrations off, on Saturday 17th September Woodlands held a garden party in the theme of the “Wild West”. The Garden Party was a resounding success organised by the Manager Vicky Ayling, who has worked in the home for seventeen years, and her team. Almost 200 residents, family & friends attended and enjoyed the “Champagne at the Blitz” singers and their performance set the tone for the afternoon. There were many traditional arts and craft stalls and activities including; pony rides, bouncy castle, old fashioned stocks and the Home raised over £2,500 for the charity “Families Supporting Care”, a charity for the elderly.
On the 10th October itself, Alison took staff out for Afternoon Tea at the Elvetham Hotel where they took part in a light hearted quiz on their knowledge of the history of the company. The winners received a case of wine!
Gill Lee started the home 40 years ago when she was unable to find suitable care for her Grandmother. Gill decided after a short while it was as easy to care for three people as it was for one, so Woodlands opened on the 10th October 1976. The Home is now under the leadership of Alison Lee, Gill’s daughter, a trained nurse from St Bartholemews City University, who has taken the home to new heights. Woodlands was recently inspected by CQC, the Inspector commented that the Home showed outstanding care to residents. Alison said, “Homes are only as good as the staff who work in them. At Woodlands we have a highly trained team of staff and have never used agency staff.
Now the Lee family own and run 3 homes in the Fleet and Farnham area: Woodlands, Hillbrow and Hill House Nursing and Dementia Home. Next year our 4th new home Farnham Mill Nursing Home will be opening. Alison said, “It is a great honour to care for people’s relatives, care of our elderly is a great profession to be in and makes our lives much fuller being able to learn from our elders. I am very fortunate to have so many excellent staff who love the residents as if they are their own family. Everyone hopes the homes will run on as successfully for another 40 years.
