Fremantle Homes Support UK Older People’s Day

UK Older People’s Day (1 October) is organised as part of a Government Programme called Full of Life. It coincides with the UN International Day for Older People. It is about highlighting the contribution older people make to our society and economy and tries to tackle any negative attitudes and stereotypes by bringing different generations together to promote a more positive view of later life.

People are living longer and by 2020, half the population of the UK will be aged 50 and over. This brings fundamental changes to the nature of society and the Government wants to ensure we adapt successfully to these changes. This is a long-term challenge which will need the support of everyone. UK Older People’s Day is a chance to celebrate the huge contribution older people make, to families and communities everywhere, by making new connections to those who live around us whatever their age.

Fremantle wholeheartedly supports the aims and objectives of this initative and all of Fremantle’s 15 care homes in Buckinghamshire and Barnet are joining in with a wide range of events and celebrations. Each home manager discussed the day with residents at a residents’ meeting during the summer and everyone decided it was an excellent idea to join in. Each home’s residents have selected the type of activity or event which they want to do. Wherever possible the homes have used community links to uphold the principles behind the day, in particular the Handy Hints booklet which will be distributed to local residents around Sancroft Hall in Harrow, the Student Exchange at Lewin House in Aylesbury, the link with RAF Hendon for the Forties theme day at Rosa Freedman Centre in Cricklewood and the involvement of local schools at Icknield Court, Princes Risborough; The Heights, High Wycombe; Carey Lodge, Wing; Winterton House, Wendover.

“I am proud that our homes are really getting behind the day. There is much to be celebrated and acknowledged about our older people; sadly our society seems to have forgotten that in the main. This day will help raise the profile of both care homes and older people in our society,” commented Carole Sawyers, Chief Executive of Fremantle.

Older Peoples’ Day Events

Chalk Leys
Is having a Quiz Night.  Residents will have a buffet with wine and an entertainer as well.

Farnham CH
Residents are having ‘street parties’ in their individual houses, with bunting, streamers, hats and music. In the afternoon the Ruislip Bells, a group of hand bell ringers, is coming to entertain. In addition a member of staff is dressing up as Vesta Tilly to provide old time music hall entertainment. The day will be rounded off with a fish and chip supper ordered from the local chip shop- always a favourite.

Hibbert Lodge
Is having a Beauty Day. Then later on the home’s new choir will be ready for their first performance. (Not sure the will be ready but they have enjoyed the rehearsing!) Then they will get the drinks trolley out and have a great party.

Icknield Court
Is having a games morning and some residents are attending a harvest festival service at the local junior school. In the afternoon we are having a party; staff will be in fancy dress.

Lent Rise
Will start the day with hand massages, followed by a BBQ and finger buffet lunch for all houses, in the main lounge. Entertainment will be from an old time favorite “strutting his stuff”, song and dance will be the order of the day.

Lewin
Has organized a Student Exchange. Four residents are going to the local grammar school for the morning to see what it is like being at school in 2009. In the afternoon students will come back to the home to see what life is like at Lewin House.

The Heights
Local schools are bringing some pupils along in the morning. There will be musician bringing in varies musical instruments for the residents and children to hopefully handle. The lady from Pets for Therapy is coming in with her Bull Mastiff; everyone will have cake and drinks. In the afternoon we have a super entertainer coming in whom the residents all thoroughly enjoy.

Carey Lodge
Is holding a pudding club, so that residents can have a taste of lots of old fashioned puddings. The 6th form students from the local school are going to be waiting staff.

Winterton House
Is having youth workers from the local church in to run a quiz, and also having a luxury food buffet for the residents. The quiz will include karaoke songs as well to make it more interesting.

Apthorp
At Apthorp Lodge the residents have chosen to have a traditional seaside day. They would have liked to have gone to the seaside but due to the time of year we are bringing the seaside to them. There will be a sand pit to build sand castles in, eat ice cream wafers (the old fashioned way) candy floss and this is then going to be finished of with a traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner which was voted as their favourite meal. There will be quizzes and games going on all day and large bowls of traditional sweets and biscuits.

At the Day Centre the service users have been bringing in photos of their ‘Younger Years’ which the staff have copied and made into posters and the idea is to guess who is who and to reminisce.

Dell Field Court
Is putting on a party for residents and the staff will wear fancy dress.

Meadowside
Are holding a reminiscence day with costumes, old style tea party

Merrivale
Having an Arts and Crafts day. Making Xmas things which will be raffled off.

Rosa Freedman
We are having a Forties theme party with costumes. The Hendon RAF museum will be attending and dressing the centre. Service users from the Day centre are rummaging through their old Frocks. Residents from the home will be joining in too. We will be sending out invitations to Families

Sancroft Hall
Day Centre members of Byron (dementia care) Day Centre have produced a magazine which will be ’launched on 1st October. Anjali and Maya (Asian elder) Day Centres will be competing against one another in a quiz morning. Sancroft residents are compiling a booklet of handy hints and tips based on a cumulative total of 4000 years experience. The booklet will be distributed to all the houses adjoining our property.

For more information please contact:
Claire Gajeckyj, Marketing Manager on 01296 737366
Woodley House, 64-65 Rabans Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8RS
email: claire.gajeckyj@fremantletrust.org