The Elms care home in Bembridge welcomed Lady Sally Grylls earlier this month to present her with a plaque in recognition of her continued dedication and contribution to the care sector on the Isle of Wight. Lady Grylls – mother of Bear Grylls – has been an enthusiastic campaigner for people living with dementia and was an instrumental figure in the introduction of Dementia UK Admiral Nurses to the Isle of Wight. Admiral Nurses specialise in dementia, helping family carers gain the necessary skills to assist with dementia care and promoting positive approaches to living with and improving the quality of life for everyone involved by providing medical, emotional, and psychological support from diagnosis through to end of life care and bereavement. Lady Grylls’ connection to The Elms goes back over 50 years; Sally used to stay there with her father when it was a boutique hotel and when the building later became a care home, her father was the 1st resident and he lived there for 12 years until his death in 2000, aged 94. Sally also has further links with Hartford Care, having stayed at Highfield Nursing Home in Ryde in 2014 – another of the care provider’s homes – for rehabilitation care following a broken leg. Lady Grylls, comments:
“I’m thrilled to be presented with this plaque, The Elms carries many special memories for me and it’s wonderful to see many of the original staff again – two of my father’s carers, Caroline and Ann, are still working at the home now. “I’m very proud to have helped introduce Dementia UK Admiral Nurses to the island and it’s been a pleasure to give my time to help the care sector – it is the ‘love’ link which connects every generation together.”
