My wish to fish – Care home resident hooks special trip

A Stratford-upon-Avon care home resident hooked a special fishing trip as part of a programme to help elderly residents achieve their outstanding aspirations in life.

88-year-old Alan Burnett-Provan is a resident at Canning Court Bupa Care Home. Due to his poor health and care needs, he is not able to leave his room often. However, when he mentioned to a member of staff how much he missed going fishing, the team wanted to give him a day to remember.

Justin Connolly, Resident Experience Manager at the care home, arranged for Alan’s fishing license, bought some fishing equipment for the day and the catering team arranged for a packed lunch for the duo to enjoy at Arden Fisheries.

Alan clearly still had the eye for a catch and hooked three different fishes – a carp, silver bream and gudgeon – during the day out.

The trip was organised as part of Bupa’s #NeverTooLate programme. The campaign is run across its care homes nationwide, to help residents live life to the full and achieve the things they’ve long wanted to do – from trying out new activities to reconnecting with old pastimes. Suzanne Middleton, Home Manager at Canning Court, said: “We were delighted to be able to turn Alan’s fishing wish into a reality. Alan’s health has suffered recently but the trip has invigorated him, and he was over the moon that he caught three fish. He’s been happily chatting about it since, and we’re looking into turning it into a regular trip.

“We love to encourage our residents like Alan to keep busy and independent in whatever way is right for them. Alan was delighted with his fishing trip and we will be sure to go again.”

Canning Court Bupa Care Home is situated in Stratford-upon-Avon and welcomes residents in need of dementia care. For further information, please visit https://www.bupa.co.uk/care-services/care-homes/canning-court-stratford-upon-avon