70-year-old Neath care home resident fulfils dream and tries skiing for the first time

When Verna Fallon, who lives at HC-One’s Cwrt-Clwydi-Gwyn care home, in Skewen, Neath, told Colleagues of her dream to go skiing, they had to make this happen and soon the team were on the dry ski slopes with Verna having the time of her life! 

Area Director Eileen Coyle-Jones heads up the team in South Wales for HC-One and has been helping Residents throughout the region to fulfil their dreams using the ‘Dream Tree Initiative’ in care homes. Residents write their dream and hang it on the tree. Colleagues will then do all they can to organise for this to happen. 

Verna, who has lived at the care home since July 2021 and has recently celebrated her 70th birthday, told Colleagues of her wish to go skiing, having always watched the skiing on TV and thinking she would like to try it, but had never had the opportunity. 

With some organising from the team, Verna took to the slopes on Friday 21 July at Pembrey Ski and Activity Centre, in Pembrey Country Park, Llanelli. 

The Cwrt-Clwydi-Gwyn care team, Suzanne Richards and Shona Bennett, accompanied Verna and Eileen on the dry ski slope for a lesson for beginners; none of them having ever been on a ski slope before. The group had so much fun together with plenty of laughs had all round.  

Verna said that she loved watching the younger skiers who were belting down the large ski slope with no fear. She said, “It was the best, I really enjoyed it! You watch it on the television, and it seems so easy, not quite as easy in real life!“I loved the day, and need to do a snow slope now!  

Lisa Llewellyn, Care Home Manager at Cwrt-Clwydi-Gwyn, commented:“We always do all we can to go above and beyond for our Residents – as part of our commitment to doing everything we can to make sure they are still living life to the fullest while in our care. It is lovely to see another one of our lovely Residents fulfil her dream, which Verna has wanted to do for many years.”