Activities at Wilsmere House Care Home

Wilsmere House in Harrow weald commemorated Remembrance Day on Sunday 10th November, where they joined the rest of the United Kingdom in holding a two-minute silence at 11am. The activities team also donated gift to the British legion community group association.

As well as marking Remembrance Day by wearing poppies and watching the televised service, some residents were taken to the local cenotaph to commemorate the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Also, local author Evelyn Julia Kent who wrote a book about 'Eva Schlos a holocaust survivor the step sister of Ann Frank. Evelyn joined us to tell us how it came about.

Residents at Wilsmere House mentioned that: “It is very important that we keep the memories of those who fought alive and that we also think about those involved in conflicts around the world today.

Our elders’ resident who is 101years old has a good long term recollection of the war. She said, “During the war, I was a nurse working in the local hospital in Germany where I helped to treat wounded civilians. In 1949, a friend invited me to come to London and because Germany was under military rule at the time, l had to collect travel document to aid my passage to the UK. When I arrived in London, I continued to work until my retirement. Most of my family are still in Germany”.

Lili Cocue General Manager at Wilsmere House said: “We have a number of residents with personal ties to the military, so it was important to us to making 11th November a special day for them and all our residents.

Wilsmere House in Harrow was a den of ghoulish activity as the home’s spooky Halloween party got in to full swing.

Staff, residents and guests got in to the spirit of things with magic show, workshop and party. Fancy dress, live music and games.

General Manager, Lili Cocue, said: “Our residents and staff love an opportunity to dress up and what better time of the year to do this than Halloween? We had a whole range of tricks and treats for the people that live here and their guests as well as Activities team visited the local Weald rise primary school and all saints’ church with Halloween sweets. We have all really enjoyed every moment of it!!”

Our residents especially Jean Baird, was in her element, played the role of magicians assistant “She said, I really enjoyed myself and I would like to do it again.It was a fun day”

It was wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort to get in spirit. Residents really enjoyed the party, the participation of staff dancing, costumes, carving the pumpkins, one of the gentlemen dressed up as a wizard and looked exactly like Gandalf!.

Staff, residents and friends celebrated Grandparents Day on the 8th of October at the home. The event was extra special as all the performers, who entertained the residents, where over the age of 60 and all grandparents themselves. 

Residents and staff members at Wilsmere House held a National Poetry Day event at the home. 

We hosted a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Residents and staff at Wilsmere house put the ‘fun’ into ‘fundraising’ with activity, including life music, charity bake sale and charity beverages to raise money via Becky Sarinas, cancer survivor's Birthday Gift Fund for McMillan nurses. 

The home also held a raffle with prizes kindly donated by staff and our Ending loneliness volunteering group.

Becky said “Thank you to the Manager Lili Cocue and the Activities coordinator Elsie Ocran for the use of Wilsmere House Care Centre and for providing cakes and drinks for my fundraising. With your support, we raised £110.16 for McMillan.”

Lili Cocue General Manager at Wilsmere House said: “We love to fundraise for charities throughout the year for different causes throughout the year that has been selected by staff, residents and friends of the home. “So we feel really proud to have been able to raise this money. Thank you to everyone who donated!”  

Staff and residents at Wilsmere House created a gigantic memory and the entire concept was Mad Hatters Tea afternoon has been designed on the Alice’s story, so little elements of the book hidden on the tables or by the cake. Some of the cups were decorated with some sort of clue from Alice in Wonderland to mark World Alzheimer’s and International Day of Peace.

Residents and guest were treated to delicious range of sandwiches and for the sweet treats there were selection of cakes, scones. As for drinks? There were plenty of different infusions of selections teas, coffees and soft drinks. Wonderful performance by Harrow based choir (More than just a choir).

Our Visiting volunteers from Slovakia Teresa and Dominika said, “We’re very grateful to know Wilsmere house care home. It’s a wonderful place, full of love, care and patience. Now, I want to say something about us. We’re students from secondly Medical School in Trnava from Slovakia (Trnave is a small town).This year we’ll finish our studies and will be nurses. We want to help people… Our school allowed us to come to England to meet people, learn their traditions and especially this care home. This Tea party was full of FunJ we will be going back with memories of this home and beautiful tea party. Our new experience.”

After the active afternoon, everyone sat down to rest and reminisce about their most precious memories over a cup of tea and biscuits. The oldest person living at the home spoke about her first time that she read the Alice in wonderland book and the memories that this event has been able to bring it to life was amazing. The home cares for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia in its Memory Lane Community – a unique environment, designed to encourage active and enjoyable living. The person-centred care provided in this community can bring out the best in those who live there and offer much-needed quality care to the wider community.

Lili Cocue, General Manager, said: “Our Memory Lane community is at the heart of the home and so it’s very important that we do something special to mark World Alzheimer’s Day. We have all really enjoyed the Mad Hatters Tea party and there have been some fantastic stories being told by the residents about what they got up to in their youth!”