A NURSE who has offered a lifeline to families of people living with dementia has vowed to carry on after reaching her 70th birthday.

Maggie Langford is a much loved figure at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham. 

For more than two decades, she has been a lynchpin for relatives having to witness loved ones go through the emotional and physical trials of dementia and other illnesses.

Having reached the age of 70 at the end of 2023, she has decided to stay on offering the support and inspiration that so many families and her fellow staff have come to rely on.

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Maggie, who lives in Gresford, said: “I love my job. I have no plan to retire yet. I will be here for families as long as they need me and feel I can contribute.”

Maggie joined the award-winning Pendine Park in 1998 and at first worked at its Cae Bryn residential home in Summerhill, Wrexham, before moving to the neighbouring Bodlondeb home.

Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman described Maggie as a long-time champion and an indefatigable ally for families enduring times of emotional crises, and a friend to all.

Originally hailing from the south Wales valleys, Maggie entered nursing when she was aged 18, saying it was more than a job, but a vocation.

She trained in Wembley, then in Middlesex, London and later went on to spend some of her career working in South Africa and also the Isle of Man before she eventually joined Pendine Park.

She was at first recruited as a general nurse but when the role of a family liaison nurse was created, communicating and co-ordinating with families of existing residents and potential new residents, Maggie was the perfect choice for the job.

Maggie said: “For family members, sons and daughters, the sense of guilt can be overwhelming, when there is no reason to feel guilty. It still weighs on your shoulders. They can feel that they are not doing enough or they have somehow failed their loved ones, but this is not the case.

“I am here to talk with families, answer any questions they have, chat informally, and offer a sounding board as they make ongoing decisions. Mental illnesses are invariably progressive and with each new stage comes different dilemmas. I am always here to talk things through and provide a consistent point of contact for families and friends of the person affected.”

Maggie has helped set up community groups so families going through similar crises can reach out to each other, as well as informative dementia workshops and social gatherings for relaxation.

Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman said Maggie was one in a million, an outstanding nurse and a caring person.

She said: “Over 20 years ago I met the formidable Maggie. She has been a constant to all our residents over many years, offering outstanding support to relatives and being a close friend of all residents. She is loyal and so freely giving of her time and efforts, all to help others. She always puts the needs of others before her own. We love her.”