Priory residents realise long held dreams
Two residents at the Priory Grange Potters Bar nursing home are proving that living in care is not a restriction to fulfilling life-long ambitions.
31-year-old Belinda Rodin, a resident at the Priory Grange Potters Bar for two years, recently auditioned for hit TV show The X-Factor following encouragement from one of the home's care team. Belinda suffers serious neurological dysfunctions and is wheel-chair bound but her talent and love for singing took her to the O2 Arena in the hope of performing in front of Simon Cowell, Danni Minogue and Cheryl Cole.
Belinda said: "Although I am quite severely disabled and live in a nursing home I don't believe that means I have to compromise on living my life. The ethos at The Priory Grange is to develop and encourage residents to achieve.
"It was a huge effort for me to go along to the auditions but I was supported by one of the staff, a couple of friends and the home's driver. My aspiration was to sing in front of the judges and I am disappointed that I didn't make it that far.
"I do feel that disabled people are not well-represented on the show. There has only been one wheelchair contestant on the show and during auditions disabled participants are never shown on TV and that is frustrating as I know there were a significant number at the same audition I attended.
"However, it was very exciting to be a part of the whole X-Factor experience and proves that, with the right support, living in a nursing home is not the end of a full and active life."
Another resident recently took the trip of a lifetime, fulfilling a dream by flying to New York and cruising back on the Queen Mary. The lady, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease and is a wheelchair user, was accompanied on the trip by Priory nurse Nadia Ellis who needed to be on hand to administer medication using a special pump.
Nadia, who has worked at The Priory Grange Potters Bar for ten years, said: "The resident had always wanted to go on a cruise and saw this particular holiday advertised and was determined to travel. She needed a nurse to go along and I was the lucky person! It was a fantastic experience for both of us.
"The trip was so successful that we are hoping to travel with other residents to Spain for a group holiday."
Janet Pannell, hospital director at the Priory Grange Potters Bar said: "The Priory's philosophy is to help our residents to lead fulfilling lives and for each person to achieve his or her maximum potential.
"These two residents are an example to everyone that having an illness or disability and living in a nursing home does not mean that your dreams and ambitions cannot be realised."
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