Right at Home grants life-long wish to 91-year-old animal lover

It’s been many years since animal-enthusiast Margaret Sargent has been able to visit the zoo in person – but all that changed thanks to a heartwarming initiative from her homecare provider.

Right at Home Mid Hampshire recently supported the 91-year-old, from Romsey, on her day out to Marwell Zoo in Winchester, having relaunched its popular Tin Full of Wishes programme, designed to help their Clients fulfill their lifelong dreams.

Earlier this month, Margaret, who lives with dementia and requires 24-hour care, told her live-in carer about her love for animals and her wish to visit her local zoo one day.

This sparked excitement at the Right at Home office and the team immediately set to work to make her dream a reality.

Upon hearing Margaret’s story, Marwell Zoo generously donated free tickets for her and her live-in carer, Mevis Mutanga, and Compliance Coordinator, Grace Mitchell, to attend.

The trio embarked on the trip on September 18, visiting every animal enclosure. A highlight of the trip was special moment with tiger, Valentina.

Since the passing of Marwell’s long-standing tiger, Bagai, Valentina has been seen less frequently. The zoo commented: "Valentina and Bagai were a very close pair, often seen grooming, playing, and sleeping together. Since Bagai’s passing, Valentina has kept to herself more."

However, when Margaret arrived at the tiger enclosure, wearing her tiger-patterned jacket, Valentina came up to the screen, as if to greet her. 

Grace said: “It was a truly magical moment for Margaret, whose love for tigers was met with this incredible experience.” 

Margaret and her support team capped off the day with ice cream, enjoying the beauty of the zoo and its surroundings. 

Reflecting on her trip, Margaret was overwhelmed with gratitude, expressing that it was a day she will never forget. 

She said: "I had such a wonderful time at Marwell Zoo. Seeing the animals, especially the tigers, was a dream come true. I'm so grateful to my carers for making this day possible – I couldn't have asked for better support."

Shannon Haines, Registered Manager at Right at Home Mid Hampshire, shared her thoughts on the heartwarming experience: “We are so thrilled to bring back our ‘Tin Full of Wishes’ programme, and what a fantastic way to start. We are incredibly thankful to Marwell Zoo for making this happen and proud of our team for going the extra mile to make our clients’ wishes come true. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do.” 

Right at Home Mid Hampshire is committed to enhancing the lives of their clients, not only through exceptional care but also by fulfilling personal dreams. The 'Tin Full of Wishes' programme will continue to grant meaningful experiences to clients, one wish at a time.