Colleagues served tea and refreshments to Residents at Tower Bridge care home in Southwark, London, while they celebrated Grandparents Day 2020.
Colleagues helped to decorate the lounges and make collages of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Residents at the home and wanted to use the special day to try and find out more about the Residents and their life stories. So, the home’s Wellbeing Coordinator came up with a plan, “asked a family member to send some information about a Resident and their life story.”
In response, the home received some wonderful comments about the Residents. In particular, Emily Duffin, who is more commonly known as Nina, had her life story sent in by family members and everyone loved learning a little more about her and her family:
Born in Bermondsey on the 23rd April 1928, parents Jim and Emmie Ranson.
Emily had three younger brothers, Jimboy, Ronnie and Johnny.
Emily attended Riley Road school which she left at the age of 14 years and worked various jobs until she became a machinist. She and her husband, Bill, married on 5th August 1950 at St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Bermondsey street. He worked at the docks until 1979. Emily and Bill have two children, Lorraine (born 28th August 1953) and Kevin (born 8th September 1957).
After Kevin was born, Emily worked part-time at Metal Box Co. in Riley road until 1981 when the company moved.
Emily is now at Tower Bridge care home, keeping the staff on their toes with her wit.
Residents loved Grandparents Day, speaking with family members and seeing pictures of all the grandchildren. One Resident, known as M.H, said, “Wow, that’s my family.”
Another, B.F, added, “It’s lovely to see the pictures up!”
Emily had said, “That’s my Kevin,” while admiring the collage.
Home Manager, Christen Sanpedro, commented, “Grandparents day was fantastic, not only did the Residents enjoy the collages, but they loved learning about their friends’ families too.”