By Edna Twivey, a former WWII nurse, recently celebrated her 101st birthday and she’s still going strong after all these years. She recently shared her tips for living a long healthy life with the National Health Service in Lanarkshire, Scotland and said love is the secret spice to staying young. She met her 90-year-old husband David 60 years ago while attending a dance class in London. And the rest was history.
“Family is everything, and David is my rock. The love we have keeps us both young!” she told the NHS.
But Twivey is still up for adventure. She loves to travel the world and recently got back from a Scandinavian cruise.
She and her husband are also a big part of the Day Services at Stonehouse Lifestyles, a community organization designed to keep seniors active and involved. It’s also a way to reduce loneliness among senior citizens.
The group recently came together to celebrate Twivey’s birthday. Plus, it gave the staff a much-needed break from their caregiving duties.
“As a nurse all my working life, and during the testing times of war, I was always focused on providing care,” Twivey explained during the festivities. “Now the tables have turned. I’m a recipient of support and benefitting from the added reassurance of being connected to a community in Strathaven and here in Stonehouse. The Service really has been a godsend and the party that’s been laid on is typical of the thoughtfulness of staff and fellow service users here.”
Administrative officer Margaret Cooper said Twivey is the gravity that keeps this tight-knit community of seniors together.
“It was an absolute pleasure to meet Edna and a joy to be able to spend part of her special day with her. It was obvious how well thought-of she is by all the service users and staff at Stonehouse Lifestyles,” Cooper exclaimed. “David is absolutely devoted to her and that was lovely to see as well. Congratulations to Edna!”
Soumen Sengupta, Director of Health and Social Care for South Lanarkshire, shared his gratitude for the couple’s exciting spirit.
“Edna and David’s zest for life is truly infectious,” he commented. “Huge credit to our Day Service staff at Stonehouse Lifestyles for the effort invested in making this such a special event for the couple. It was great to see service users from across the area, and indeed generations, come together to celebrate with them.”
Twivey’s point person at the facility, Angela Alexander, reflected on her legacy in the healthcare industry.
“During WWII Edna nursed in a London hospital, she reminisces how she would not stand for any of the soldiers’ misbehavior and would scold them and sternly order them back to bed! Of course, they did as they were told,” Alexander explained. “Edna will say to staff ‘I used to do the same job as you and now it’s my turn to be looked after.’
But “she is always very appreciative and will frequently thank staff for all they do.”
