102-year-old reveals secret to 'long, happy and healthy life' is staying single

A resident at a care home in North Lanarkshire has celebrated her 102nd birthday and says staying single has been key to living a “long, happy and healthy life”.

Cathy Hillock, who lives at Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw, was treated by staff to a 1920s Great Gatsby themed birthday party and was joined by her family and friends, with fellow residents and staff donning their feathered finery for the big day.

Ms Hillock said: “I think for me, the secrets to a long, happy and healthy life are everything in moderation. I eat and drink well, have always done lots of charity work, oh and perhaps most importantly I stayed single and never got married!”

In addition to a regular programme of activities, Beechwood Care Home, which is part of the Holmes Care Group, always goes the extra mile to ensure that residents’ birthdays and other significant milestones are memorable.

Helen Miller, activities co-ordinator at Beechwood Care Home said: “All the staff and residents at Beechwood had a fantastic time celebrating Cathy’s 102nd Birthday. It’s always wonderful to be able to find unique ways to make each birthday party special, and Cathy was delighted to be able to celebrate her milestone birthday with family and friends and said how happy she was to know everyone was thinking of her.”

Beechwood Care Home is part of Holmes Care Group, a family-run care group which supports and cares for over 1,100 people and operates 22 homes across Scotland and one home in England.

The group started with one home in 1982 and today employs over 1,600 people.