Seven Year Old Brightens Days at Derby Nursing Home with Visits

A nursing home in Derby has a new helper named Skye Fearnehough, who is only seven years old. Skye visits Brookfields twice a month and makes everyone smile. She talks to the people living there and joins in their activities.

Skye’s family also works at Brookfields. Her mom, Kirsty, is an auxiliary nurse, and her grandad, Andy, does maintenance work. The owner, Celeste Turner, likes Skye’s visits and gave her a name badge.

Celeste praises Skye’s visits, saying they brighten up the residents’ day. Skye eats meals with them, plays bingo, and sometimes watches movies and talks with them.

Brookfields hosts activities for kids like sports days and painting, along with Halloween and Christmas events. Skye started helping after a family day, enjoying talking to the residents and liking kitchen treats.

Kirsty says Skye learns from older people and feels good about chatting with them. Celeste emphasizes the importance of children’s visits and how they add something special to the home. Kids see that seniors are just people, and residents become more lively around kids.

Celeste believes mixing ages is helpful because older people want life, interest, and fun. She says that half the Brookfields staff have relatives working there, including sisters, mothers, daughters, grandparents, and spouses.

Celeste values her Brookfields team, noting that they give residents good care and rarely use agency staff because many are related to each other. This makes Brookfields feel like a big family.

Brookfields received awards in 2024, recognized for nursing and care through Business Awards UK, and commended by Health Innovation East Midlands.