National Care Home Open Day celebrated at the Royal Hospital’s Margaret Thatcher Infirmary
28th June 2014
Chelsea Pensioners and staff from the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s Margaret Thatcher Infirmary (MTI) celebrated the National Care Home Open Day with an ‘around the world’ tea party on Friday 20th June.
The national annual event aims to create lasting links between care home residents and their local communities, and Pensioners were delighted to welcome to their home The Worshipful Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea Councillor Maighread Condon Simmonds, schoolchildren from Christ Church Primary School and CEO of the Care Quality Commission David Behan, amongst many other esteemed guests.
MTI staff members and Pensioners dressed in their national costumes for the party, and celebrated with cakes from the UK, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Philippines, Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
The choir from the MTI (Old Men Allowed) also provided entertainment and performed a variety of songs.
Theresa Ayeche, MTI Activity Co-ordinator, said: “The Pensioners and staff alike had a wonderful day and we were honoured to be joined by so many supporters of the Royal Hospital on the National Care Home Open Day. We’d like to thank everyone who made it such an enjoyable experience for the Pensioners.”
Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission David Behan praised the MTI, he said: “The theme of the tea party at the home for Chelsea Pensioners as part of National Care Home Open Day was ‘around the world’ with music and food from those places that the pensioners had served as part of their military service.
“The pensioners were joined by staff in national dress of their home country and by school children. The celebration of the open day was a joyous, intergenerational and international celebration – truly inspiring.”
