“I just carry on and take each day as it comes,” are the tips to a happy and long life according to Ipswich resident, Joan Glading.
Joan, who has lived in Ipswich all her life, celebrated her landmark 105th birthday on 14th November, as she was joined by friends and family to enjoy her favourite meal of rock eel and chips.
Born and bred in Ipswich, Joan’s father was originally from Blackburn and arrived in Ipswich during the First World War, having been wounded in the Battle of Loos in 1915. One of her great loves has been Girl Guiding, which she joined when she was aged eight-years-old, and has been involved in some way ever since.
Originally Joan and her family lived in Kensington Road, Ipswich, where they enjoyed going to Broomhill Swimming Pool, before they then moved to the Gainsborough area of the town in 1985, where Joan and her husband, Jack, did a lot of work on their house to bring it up to date – the home Joan still lives in to this day.
Joan, who has 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren with another one due in February next year, said: “I just carry on and take each day as it comes. I don’t feel any different to what I did yesterday or the year before, I just keep going.
“I enjoy what I like and I do love my fish and chips. I also enjoy my visits from the St Elizabeth Care Agency – they are my favourite carers and we have nice chats together.”
Peter Glading, Joan’s son, added: “Mum has always been very independent minded and has always expressed her wish to stay in her own home for as long as possible.
“Who expects to be living at home at 105? But this has been made possible by the extremely efficient and caring nature of the St Elizabeth Care Agency. She will be celebrating this huge milestone quietly at home, and we will be enjoying one of her favorite meals, rock eel and chips.”
As well as friends and family, Joan also had a visit from her ‘favourite carers’, the St Elizabeth Care Agency who have been supporting Joan for a number of years, so she can live independently at home, via their daily visits to Joan.
Alison Holmes, Deputy Manager at St Elizabeth Care Agency, said: “On behalf of the whole St Elizabeth Care Agency team, I want to wish Joan a very happy birthday.
“Joan is quite the character and all our team enjoy our visits to see her, as she always brightens our days with her smile and jokes.”
Providing domiciliary care to the communities of Ipswich, Felixstowe, Woodbridge and their surrounding areas, St Elizabeth Care Agency is an organisation which delivers high quality, tailor-made services to 60 clients living in their own homes throughout East Suffolk.
For more information about St Elizabeth Care Agency visit www.stelizabethcareagency.co.uk. Alternatively call 01473 707900 or email homecare@stelizcare.co.uk.