Care home fundraised for beach wheelchairs, after resident said his last wish was to go to the beach

A care home in Clacton-on-Sea fundraised for two beach wheelchairs, after care home staff said they were “heartbroken” when they were unable to fulfil a resident’s last wish to go to the beach.

Simon Keyes, who was 34, was at Edensor Care Centre for end-of-life care and in his final days said he wanted to go to the beach.

Sadly the team did not have specially adapted wheelchairs for the beach and so were unable to fulfil his last wish.

Lindsey Milliken, deputy manager at Edensor Care Centre, said: “Edensor is very close to the beach, so it's an ideal place for those who love the seaside to visit, however many of our residents are unable to wholly enjoy their surroundings as some are permanent wheelchair users and this makes it impossible for them to go on the sand and down to the water’s edge without specially adapted chairs.

“I was with Simon on his last visit outside the home and not being able to take him on the sand was a feeling I never wanted to experience again.”

With the support of Colchester Catalyst, Pickering Electronics LTD and those who donated through Just Giving, Edensor has been able to buy two beach wheelchairs.

The first resident to use a new beach wheelchair was Mary Wood. She said, “I have had the most amazing time and it brought back such happy childhood memories of visits to the beach.”

As part of their commitment to the community, the charity Diagrama which runs the Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, hopes to allow the local community to book one of the wheelchairs so that even more people will be able to go on the beach.

To enquire about borrowing a beach wheelchair call the Edensor team on 01255 423317.

Diagrama is a charity which supports vulnerable people through residential care, adoption and fostering across the southeast of England. The foundation has three small care homes for adults with learning disabilities, a 48-bed care home for elderly with nursing and dementia needs, three homes for vulnerable young people and a Supported Living Service.