Colleagues at Grosvenor Park care home in Sussex celebrated ‘Bad Poetry Day’ with lots of funny poems that staff had found to make the Residents smile.
Then they wrote individual poems for the Residents that really expressed how they feel about them and represents the Resident as an individual.
One Carer said, “The Residents were so touched and some welled up too”.
Then the next day staff were overwhelmed when they received a beautiful poem written Resident Jean as a thank you for the poems
“We were so grateful for (the poem) and it bought a tear to our eyes”
When You Get To My Age
By Jean of Grosvenor Park
“When you get to my age”
I heard my parents say
“Life gets a little slower”
“Each and every day”
But I see it rather differently
And beg to disagree
If anything gets slower
I’d have to say it’s me
In my mind I’m still a young girl
In my mind I’m just like you
I can dance and I can sing out loud
And anything else I choose to do
But when you get to my age
Reality sets in
You only have to look and see
The wrinkles of my skin
My eyes don’t see too far ahead
My knees don’t like to bend
My ears don’t always hear your voice
On people like you I depend
I didn’t plan to come here
I didn’t plan to stay
I didn’t want to cause a fuss
‘cause that’s just not my way
However…
I’m so pleased that I came here
I’m so pleased that I could stay
You’ve made me feel so special
Each and every day
Grosvenor Park has angels
They hide them in plain sight
They’re there first thing in the morning
And they’re there if you need them at night
I really want to thank you all
From the bottom of my heart
I wish I could repay you all
But I don’t know where to start
Perhaps when you get to my age
You’ll remember this old girl
And know you made a difference
To me, and my little world
I’ll leave you with some wisdom
From a simple life well lead
The road of life behind you
Is longer than the road ahead
So be kind to one another
And remember what I said
Because when you get to my age
You won’t remember a damn thing…