Activities at Paternoster House Care Home

Here at Paternoster House our residents we love to party!

With David Brierley providing the afternoons entertainment, our residents, friends and family all together, and the Christmas party food and drinks flowing … it was always going to be a festive fun-filled Friday. The Merry Christmas photo frame made for some wonderful pictures that our activities team will be printing for friends and family to keep.
 
It was a fabulous day of song and dance and we can't thank the local community enough for the wonderful raffle donations. The first prize Christmas Hamper donated by Tesco Community Champion; Michelle was one by Resident; Sidney.

On the 17th day of our Countdown to Christmas Calendar our residents and staff were treated to a super swingout session from the lovely Mrs Christmas -  Heidi McCaffrey!

Her live performance had us all ‘stepping into Christmas’ with a melody of ABBA classics and festive tunes. Heidi is a regular singer here at Paternoster House and we look forward to seeing her again in 2025.

Thank you Heidi for keeping our wonderful residents (and staff) fit and active throughout the year. Merry Christmas for everyone at Paternoster House including all our visiting friends, and family that you always manage to entice to the dance floor!

We love any excuse to get creative so when we found out it was Gingerbread House Day on December 12, we didn’t need any persuading to get cracking.

Our activities team supplied the gingerbread kits for our residents and volunteers who got busy constructing, and decorating each with icing, marshmallows, jelly babies and edible glitter stars. 

What a fun way to spend the afternoon, those little houses had us in fits of laughter as each side collapsed trying to affix the roof! However, we think you'll agree we made some of the glitziest gingerbread houses in town.

They tasted as good as they looked as we enjoyed a slab or two with our afternoon tea!

The 12th day of Christmas brought a festive Carol performance from the young students of Upshire Primary Foundation School. 
Their little faces were a picture of delight when, as they entered the homes reception ‘Father Barry Christmas’ was there to welcome them!

Our Parklands community residents and staff really enjoyed the children's singing and signing each song, they even had a little dance along! We all loved chatting with the children and find out what they hope Santa will bring them for Christmas. 

We know that intergenerational activity is hugely beneficial to all involved as it encourages communication and social skills. It helps children to develop empathy, care and kindness all of which the young students from Upshire Primary have in abundance

Our very own Father 'Barry' Christmas has been making local Nursery Children’s Dreams Come True.

Resident, Barry Watson is Father Christmas! Well, he’s Waltham Abbey’s answer to Santa as far as the children of Wishing Well preschool nursery - Waltham Abbey are concerned.

Every year Barry nurtures his beard, dons his red coat and winter boots to visit local children, hand out gifts and listen to their individual hopes and wishes for Christmas before passing onto his colleagues in Lapland.

This year, Wishing Well Nursery organised for Father Barry Christmas’s reindeer, and his portable Grotto (courtesy of The Reindeer Centre in Bethersden) to join him which made the whole occasion extra special. Even the Mayor of Waltham Abbey; Shane Yerrell took time to meet the children, and Santa, ensuring he too stays on ‘nice’ list!

It was a truly magical day for all involved.

Our home manager; Corina Popescu said: “We believe that every moment is worth cherishing, especially at this time of the year.  Barry takes his role as Father Christmas very seriously, knowing he’s there to keep the belief in Santa alive. We’d like to thank chief Elf; Nursery Practitioner ‘Hope’ and everyone at Wishing Well Nursery for inviting us to play such an important part of the children’s Christmastime.”
 

As part of our Intergenerational programme, our residents were thrilled to watch the annual Christmas carol show performed by the children from our local school, Hillhouse Church of England Primary School.

Many of our residents gathered together in the homes large reception area to be entertained before the wonderful children visited each community to sing and chat the all the other residents, going from room to room spreading Christmas cheer throughout the home!

It was truly magical and put the biggest smiles on everyone’s faces.