An 89-year-old former model has become the first resident to move into a new care home in Bedale — and says she is looking forward to “getting dressed up” again.
Maureen Hill moved into Riverdale Manor Care Centre last month after relocating from Shipley to be closer to family.
To mark the occasion, the newly opened care home commissioned a hand-engraved slate plaque in her honour and planted a rhododendron on her private patio to recognise her as the home’s founding resident.
But for Maureen, who has a lifelong love of fashion after working as a model in her younger years, the move represents something more personal.
She said: “I want to put my make-up on, get dressed up and sit out in that garden.
“I’m so excited. I feel like I’m getting back to myself.”
Maureen has faced significant health challenges in recent years after suffering a stroke which left her with weakness on one side and requiring nursing care in bed.
Her niece, Judy Iveson, said the family wanted somewhere that felt welcoming and personal.
She said: “We wanted somewhere that felt like a real home – where Aunty Maureen would be truly cared for and looked after as an individual.
“From the moment we walked into Riverdale Manor, we knew this was the right place.”
Clare Erskine said staff had worked hard to make Maureen’s arrival special.
She said: “Welcoming Maureen has made our opening truly special. We prepared her room with so much love and care, and seeing her arrive, knowing that this is now her home, is the reason every single one of us does this job.
“What makes Riverdale Manor different is that we focus on the person, not the condition. This is Maureen’s home. It belongs to her.
“Our job is to support her to live as fully and as independently as possible, and if that means getting dressed up and enjoying the garden, then that is exactly what we will do.”
The care home also hopes to become a community hub for Bedale residents, with plans to open a “chatty café” offering a drop-in space for people seeking company and conversation.
Clare added: “We are here for everyone, not just those who need round-the-clock care.
“If someone in Bedale is feeling isolated and wants a friendly face and a coffee, our door is open. That is what being part of this community means to us.”
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