The Chase, a luxury care home in Huntingdon, recently arranged a special day at the races for temporary resident Paul Austen (79), after the team discovered his lifelong love of horseracing during a short respite stay at the home.
Paul came to The Chase during a difficult period of adjustment following a stroke last year, which affected his mobility and left him increasingly withdrawn from the people and activities he had previously enjoyed. His wife, who has become his main carer, arranged the stay to give them both some much-needed support and recovery time.
As Paul settled into life at The Chase, however, the team began to see a real change. He steadily became more engaged and interested in rediscovering his old passions – so when the team discovered that a local race was taking place and asked whether he fancied a day out, his answer was an immediate “yes!”
Lauren Mair, General Manager at The Chase, said:
“When Paul first arrived, we could see that he had been through a very tough period. Rather than pushing him too early, we took the time to get to know him, understand what mattered to him, and build a plan to help rebuild confidence at his own pace. Once we discovered his love of horseracing, the idea of taking him to the races felt perfect. The change in him was wonderful to see. He was excited, engaged, and couldn’t wait to get back out there again!”
Paul had always lived an active and independent life with his wife Tina in the Cotswolds, with interests including sport, horseracing and wine tasting. After his stroke, however, everyday activities became more difficult, and he gradually lost the motivation to do many of the things he once enjoyed.
During his stay, the team took time to understand what mattered to Paul and gently reconnect him with those interests. The trip to the races proved a turning point: two members of staff accompanied him for the day, with the home preparing a special lunch beforehand – complete with his favourite gin and tonic.
Paul thoroughly enjoyed the outing, returning to The Chase with a huge smile on his face. In the days that followed, staff noticed him becoming more sociable and willing to get involved in new experiences. For Paul’s wife, seeing him enjoying himself again after such a difficult period was particularly emotional.
Tina said:
“When I first heard about the trip, I had no words to describe how happy it made me. I cannot thank the team enough – it was above and beyond anything we could possibly have wished for, and by far the best thing that had happened since Paul had his stroke. I had happy tears hearing about it and couldn’t wait to hear all about his day. Thank you all so much.”
Commenting on the day, Paul said:
“A huge thank you from me and my family to everyone at The Chase for organising such an amazing day. A few weeks ago, I couldn’t have imagined I’d be out at the races again, so it was wonderful and really refreshing to be out and about enjoying myself.”
The Chase offers short-term respite stays for people who may need support following illness, a hospital stays, or a change in circumstances. During their stay, guests can access the home’s round-the-clock care, social activities and wider facilities.
The Chase is part of the Connaught Care Collection, a provider of luxury care homes with six locations across the country. The home provides residential, dementia and respite care, with a strong focus on personalised support and helping residents continue to enjoy the interests and experiences that matter most to them.
For more information about The Chase, please contact CRM@thechasecarehome.co.uk or call 01480 278080.
