Karen marks 35 years at Abbeymoor with huge surprise party

A devoted Lifeways team member was overwhelmed with joy when her family, colleagues and the people she supports came together for a surprise party to celebrate her 35-year work anniversary. 

Night nurse Karen Johnson, who works at Lifeways’ Abbeymoor Neurological Care Centre, a residential care service in Newcastle, marked the milestone earlier this year, with team members preparing a lounge for the surprise while she was in a meeting and completely unaware of what had been planned. 

Karen Johnson said: “The 35 years have gone really quickly. I joined Abbeymoor shortly after moving here from Scotland and started doing two nights a week as a night nurse before going up to four nights a week when my children were a little older. 

“It’s a really rewarding job. All the people we support are so different and no two nights are ever the same.” 

Karen also joked that there is one person she supports at the service who she has spent more New Year’s Eves with than her husband. “It’s a nice joke between us now,” she laughed. 

The long-serving team member also praised Lifeways for always being accommodating with shifts around childcare for her family, as well as the £700,000 investment currently being spent on a full refurbishment. 

“Thank you to everyone at Abbeymoor for all the memories, I absolutely love working here. 

“Lifeways are investing a lot in the building at the moment and making some great changes and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.” 

Karen Jones, Managing Director of Lifeways’ Residential Care division, added: “Karen is so highly regarded by everyone at Abbeymoor, and I’m really pleased we were able to celebrate her in this way - it was thoroughly deserved. 

“Working night shifts brings its own challenges, with less support available out of hours, so it’s vital to have calm, dependable and highly skilled professionals leading the team. Karen embodies all of those qualities, using her knowledge and experience to make important clinical decisions and ensure the health and wellbeing of the people who live at Abbeymoor.” 

Louise Watson, Registered Manager of Abbeymoor, also commented: “Karen is a hugely valued member of the team, and we cannot imagine the service without her - she is someone everyone here looks up to and she perfectly reflects everything we aim to achieve. 

“Karen, thank you for your hard work and dedication over the past 35 years. We look forward to sharing many more years with you.” 

Lifeways took over Abbeymoor Neurological Care Centre in April 2017 and provides a unique service within its network, supporting people with life-limiting conditions to live their final years to the full, while also helping others return home with the skills gained from the team. 

The service was awarded ‘Good’ ratings across all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its last inspection in October 2019. 

Find out more about Abbeymoor here: Abbeymoor | Lifeways