Activities at Wilsmere House Care Home

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!”

Residents and staff at Wilsmere House celebrated the 103rd birthday of cherished children’s author, Roald Dahl, on 13th September 2019, which also happens to be Roald Dahl's Day as well.

In remembrance of this great man’s life, the home hosted a number of activities in hopes that everyone could feel a little bit of that Roald Dahl magic. His school life left such an impact on him, which seemed to come out in his writing later on.

Roald Dahl’s works encompassed novels, short stories, poetry and screen writing, and are noted for their inventive and playful use of language. Dahl’s most famous works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and Matilda and, collectively, his books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

Residents and a local poet Michael, who attended the event, said: “Today was lovely, joyous afternoon. This event brought our residents and the community together and shared many memories which left impressions on each ones imagination. Roald Dahl has proved that there is a little boy or girl in all of us bursting out to play that, he will never be forgotten.”

Lili Cocue General Manager at Wilsmere house, said: “I grew up reading Roald Dahl’s books, and I know that his stories are also close to the hearts of many people in this home. We had a lot of fun celebrating his birthday.”