A 103-year-old care home resident has taken the plunge and got back in the swimming pool as part of MHA Richmond’s ‘Seize the Day’ scheme.

MHA Richmond resident Lillian O’Neill, who celebrated her 103rd birthday earlier this year, has astounded her friends, family and staff by taking to the water for the first time in 25 years.

On Monday 18th March, Lillian was helped into St Mary’s School’s swimming pool in Bexhill, with the support of a dedicated team. She has been able to fulfil this ambition as part of MHA’s ‘Seize the Day’ scheme.

Seize the Day was created by MHA, a national older person’s charity which provides care, accommodation and community-based support, with the vision of helping residents to live life to the full, no matter their age. Residents are asked what one thing they would love to achieve, and the initiative then helps that dream come to life.

Throughout Lillian’s childhood, swimming was always a huge passion. She loved nothing more than to be in the water - so much so in fact, that even in her 70s she received tuition from her daughter’s former PE teacher to complete a Life Saving award.

Activities Coordinator at MHA Richmond care home, Hannah Deeprose, said: “We are always looking for new ways we can enhance the day-to-day lives of our residents, and the ‘Seize the Day’ scheme offers just that.

“I’d like to thank our hardworking team for bringing it to life and helping residents like Lillian to achieve things they never thought would be possible at this stage of life.”

www.mha.org.uk