East Grinstead care home showing that age is not a barrier to making friends

A care home is showing how age is no barrier to making new friends by celebrating friendships that started at the home.
Bob and Cyril, who live in Anchor Hanover’s Silver Court Care Home, in East Grinstead. SUS-210524-112916001Bob and Cyril, who live in Anchor Hanover’s Silver Court Care Home, in East Grinstead. SUS-210524-112916001
Bob and Cyril, who live in Anchor Hanover’s Silver Court Care Home, in East Grinstead. SUS-210524-112916001

This is part of the new campaign from Anchor Hanover’s Silver Court Care Home, in East Grinstead

One friendship which formed is between Cyril Starr, 95 and Bob Bryant, 90, who moved to the home in 2019.

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Cyril said: “You can never have too many friends and you can never be too old for new friends.

“People are always saying that people in care homes are lonely or isolated but since I moved into Silver Court and met Bob, I can tell them how wrong they are.

“Together, we always enjoy activities like baking and arts and crafts here at Anchor’s Silver Court. Although sometimes, we love just having a quiet cup of tea together, or maybe a pint or two depending on how we feel!”

They both found they had many shared interests in common and even those they didn’t share they have found ways to enjoy together.

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Bob has become very involved in gardening but while Cyril is not as keen on gardening, he has enjoyed sitting with his friend and cheering him on.

Jane Baxter, home manager, said: “At Anchor’s Silver Court we look to help our residents live full lives, and no life is complete without making friends.

“It’s wonderful to see our residents to make these connections.

“For us, we understand that we provide a community as well as a home, we understand the importance of friendship.

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“Older people are often depicted as being isolated and alone, but this shows that it is possible to build genuine connections while living with us.”

Along with the friendships between the residents like Cyril and Bob, Silver Court is celebrating the very special friendships built between their residents and younger members of the wider community.

Residents at Silver Court have always enjoyed keeping in touch with local schools and youth organisations via letters, special visits, and other activities.

However, even over the last year with no visits possible, these friendships only grew with residents and those outside Silver Court writing letters to one another and occasionally taking part in zoom calls and other ways of keeping in touch that we have become so familiar with during lockdown.

These instances of camaraderie and kindness show that age is no barrier to friendship and even at the most difficult of times we can still come together to support each other.

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