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Four months ago the staff of a north London care home didn't hold out much hope that their oldest resident would be with them for much longer - after all, Angela Hutor was 106 and suffering from Covid-19. But Angela made it through, becoming officially the oldest person in Britain to have beaten Covid, and earlier this month St Anne's in Stoke Newington laid on a special high tea party to celebrate her 107th birthday. But the coronavirus poses a threat not just to its residents, but also to the financial viability of the care home itself, which is appealing for urgent help from the local community.

Angela and Pauline Hutor at St Annes care home

Pauline Hutor with her mother at St Anne's

"Slipping away fast"

In April St Anne's contacted Angela's daughter, Pauline Hutor, suggesting she visit urgently. "When I got there it looked as though Mum was slipping away very fast. I just felt grateful to be with her at the end. However, because of the outstanding care at St Anne’s, the total and utter devotion of the nurses, carers, auxiliaries and her GP, Mum pulled through without hospitalization. The love and compassion shown by them is something I will never forget and we owe them and St Anne's an enormous debt of gratitude."

Angela Hutor with 107th birthday card from the Queen

Angela Hutor shows off her birthday card from the Queen

Angela’s recovery was gradual as she slowly began to regain her strength. After a few weeks, she was able to resume her normal life; sharing her radiant smile, contentment and her wonderful wit with everyone.

Two days of celebrations

Two days of birthday celebrations began on the morning of 11th August, with a visit to the hairdresser, followed in the afternoon by a high tea party in the garden, where she was joined by Pauline and other residents.

The next day, on the morning of her birthday, Angela was again joined by her daughter and both were overjoyed to receive a greetings card from Her Majesty the Queen. The celebrations continued in the afternoon with a sing-a-long in her honour. Angela was radiant and enjoyed every moment of it.

St Anne's care home welcomes low-income over-65s, regardless of race, nationality or religion

st annes care home stoke newington

St Anne's, which belongs to the Little Sisters of the Poor charity, provides a caring residential/nursing home and independent living flats with safe accommodation, respite provision, and palliative end of life care for vulnerable adults. It welcomes low-income over-65s, regardless of race, nationality or religion.

St Anne's relationship-centred care approach brings many benefits, particularly by reducing loneliness and isolation and keeping people active. Other notable impacts are achieved by building partnerships with schools and other local groups, supporting people to form friendships, and bringing communities together to create lasting change.

Going above and beyond

In these unprecedented times, staff and volunteers at St Anne’s are going above and beyond to make sure that high quality care continues. But lockdown has severely affected its finances. As well as suspending visits to residents, the home has had to cancel charity events and collections, which it relies on to help with increasing running costs.

Thankfully, Angela has made a full recovery, but there is a real threat to the financial viability of her home for the past eighteen months and to the many other elderly people who live there.

Sister Agnes, the Mother Superior of St Anne’s, is appealing to local communities for help to purchase extra essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),

How you can help

  • Cheques can be made payable to ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ and posted to: St Anne’s Home, 77 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16 5BL
  • PPE supplies can be dropped off at the care home
  • Alternatively, you can make a secure online card donation by visiting www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/donate-here

All donations, no matter what size, will be very gratefully received and will make a real difference to the lives of the home's vulnerable elderly residents. With your crucial donation, the charity can continue to provide safe, affordable, quality care and assistance to older people in need – not just now but for future generations. Thank you so much.

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