Isabelle Brown, who was born on 21st March 1916, first moved into her Bankfields home in the 1980s and has continued to live independently with the assistance of the HomeCall service.
Originally from South Bank, Isabelle worked as a nurse treating injured soldiers in Swindon during World War Two before moving back to Teesside to become a paediatric nurse at the Durham Road Children’s Hospital and Middlesbrough Maternity Hospital.
HomeCall team members visited Isabelle to present her with flowers, cakes and gifts to mark the momentous occasion at the home that overlooks the Eston Hills, which she climbed many times as a youngster.
HomeCall offers bespoke care and support through a variety of different services geared towards supporting elderly and vulnerable people to live independent and fulfilling lives.
Jason Lowe, Head of Independent Living at Coast & Country, said: “To reach such a tremendous milestone is an achievement in itself, but the fact that Isabelle is living in her own home and living independently at 100 is truly amazing, and incredibly rewarding for us that HomeCall has helped Isabelle achieve this.”
Asked the secret to her longevity, Isabelle said: “Spending so long working with children has helped keep me young, although I must admit sometimes I feel 120!
“I don’t get out as much as I used to but the young girl from HomeCall comes and takes me out for a trip to the shop and the like, which helps keep me active.
“When I was younger we used to spend our summer days climbing up to Eston Nab with jam sandwiches and bottles of water, so it’s fantastic to be able to see the hills from my kitchen.”
Isabelle has struck up long standing friendships with members of the HomeCall team, many of whom attended her family birthday party on Saturday as friends, rather than service providers.
Alison Millward, a member of the HomeCall team, said: “I’m very lucky to have a friend like Isabelle, we meet up regularly outside of work, and chat on the phone every week. She is such a character, and always has me laughing.”