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At the grand age of 110 years old, Hilda Luck is believed to be the oldest resident in Kent and has been having annual home fire safety visits from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) for the past three years.
Hilda still lives at the home in Rainham that she and her late husband moved into almost sixty years ago and, with the help of carers and loved ones, she remains remarkably independent.
Annual visits from KFRS also help to make sure she is as safe as possible from fire and other hazards – giving Hilda, and her family, additional peace of mind.
A neighbour initially referred her to KFRS concerned she wouldn’t wake up to the smoke alarm at night when not wearing her hearing aids.
“I just take it all in my stride, it’s nice having someone coming over and to check things and talk to you. It makes me feel safer. Luke from KFRS fitted me a special smoke alarm and it’s a help knowing something extra like that is there as you get older.”
Hilda Luck.
Luke Young, a Safe and Well Officer at KFRS, first met Hilda when she was 107-years-old.
He said: “It is inspiring for someone of this age to be so independent, and seeing how Hilda does things herself, and wants to continue doing things for herself, is amazing. Helping older people to live safely in their own homes for as long as possible is a really important part of what we do.
“I fitted a night cover alarm in Hilda’s home, which is a vibrating pad under her pillow and a flashing strobe light at the side of her bed to wake her up if smoke is detected – because she’s less unlikely to hear a smoke alarm at night.
“I’ve really enjoyed visiting Hilda over the years – she’s more than willing to let you know that she likes looking after herself. She gets up and about, she uses her frame to get around her home, and she’s always up for a chat and to talk about the many stories that she has about her life.”
And, Hilda’s advice for remaining independent for so long – “Forget how old you are and get on with what you’ve got to do. Don’t keep moaning!”
Join us for our upcoming webinar on the future of fire prevention, building on two decades of home fire safety initiatives. We’ll explore how strategies have evolved since the government’s £25m investment in home fire safety visits and the widespread adoption of smoke alarms.
In partnership with Aico, we’ll discuss the successes and challenges in changing behaviours around fire safety in 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the innovative approaches shaping the future – register now.