The Fremantle Trust marked Care Home Open Day (Friday 16th June) with a series of events across the region.

The national awareness day emphasises the importance of connecting care homes with their local communities to develop lasting relationships.

Apthorp Care Centre in Barnet held an animal workshop thanks to the team from Zoolab, who came with a host of weird and wonderful creatures, from a hissing cockroach to a corn snake, scorpion and giant millipede. Residents had the opportunity to meet the animals and learn more about their natural environment. Following the workshop, friends and family of residents were invited to attend an exhibition of artwork created by residents on the theme of animals.

Dell Field Court care home in Finchley invited pupils from Moss Hall Infant School to join residents. Together they released helium balloons carrying messages of love, reiterating the sense of community spirit. In the afternoon, relatives, neighbours and members of the local church joined the group for a buffet and entertainment by a magician.

Residents, friends and family all came together at Meadowside care home in North Finchley to host a big picnic in the gardens to celebrate the theme of friendship. Sancroft Hall care home in Harrow celebrated their international roots by creating dishes from around the world for friends, family and members of the community to sample, followed by a parade by residents and care workers showing off traditional celebratory dress from a range of destinations, including India, Tibet, Afghanistan and the UK.  

Commenting on the events, Jo Head, regional director of older people’s services at The Fremantle Trust, said:

“Care Home Open Day is a national initiative which gives us a great opportunity to bring people together and recognise the importance of community spirit. By building strong neighbourhood connections we are able to develop lasting relationships which ensure our care homes are at the heart of the communities they serve.”