Barnet Care Homes Celebrate Older People’s Day

Residents and day centre members at Apthorp Lodge and Rosa Freedman Centre in Barnet all got involved in UK Older People’s Day last week. The Rosa Freedman Centre in Cricklewood forged links with RAF Hendon to provide the people who use its care or day centre services with a day of Forties nostalgia. Service personnel from RAF Hendon came along and decorated the centre with flags and bunting and brought in a selection of war time memorabilia, such as gas masks, identity cards and rationing coupons and had a very enjoyable reminiscence session with the centre members and residents; they also made party hats – from newspaper – as was the way in the forties! This was followed by a Forties entertainer who sang all the old favourites and a buffet style party.

At Apthorp Lodge residents of the main home enjoyed a day at the seaside, which included a huge sandpit being brought in to the home and a special old fashioned sweet stall with Blackpool rock and lots of old style sweets; a seaside themed quiz, music and kiss me quick hats were also involved. At the day centre the members decided to have a reminiscence day and brought in lots of old photos and items of interest from the past, to remind them of ‘the old days’. In the afternoon they had a sing-along with which the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, who was visiting that afternoon, joined in.

Fremantle’s other three homes in Barnet also joined in, Merrivale home and day centre had an Arts and Crafts day and produce will be raffled off for Christmas. Dellfield Court and Meadowside both had parties and reminiscence events.

UK Older People’s Day was about providing 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. UK Older People’s Day is organised annually as part of a Government Programme called Full of Life. 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. All of Fremantle’s 15 care homes organised some kind of event or celebration.

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