Families and Veterans Mark Remembrance at The Burlington

The Burlington by Boutique Care Homes, situated in Shepperton, Surrey, began its Remembrance activity with a choice that belonged to residents. They got together to decide how they would like to mark Remembrance Sunday.

They settled on making poppy wreaths together, sharing stories as they worked and taking time to remember. Everyone was happy to be involved, and the finished wreaths were put on display for everyone to see.

For Margielyn “Margie” Gonzaga, Home Manager at The Burlington, it is a good picture of the home’s ethos. “Residents choosing, and our team alongside them with warmth: that is Not Just Care. Life, Thriving. in practice.”

Then members of the Royal British Legion Ashford (Middx) Branch visited for a Remembrance gathering. It came about through a family. Paul Stubbs, a member of the branch, is the son of Burlington resident Tom Stubbs OBE, and Paul helped organise the gathering with the home.

Through poems, hymns and stories, branch members and residents spent time remembering and reflecting together, with conversations taking place around the Home. Everyone was happy to be part of it.

For Sarah, Head of Lifestyle and Wellbeing at The Burlington, that starting point matters. “The best ideas about how a day here should feel come from the people who know our residents best, and that includes their families.”

Tom knows what Remembrance means from experience. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he is now 100. He joined the forces in 1944 and served until his discharge in 1948. A civil service career followed, with postings in Germany, India and Ethiopia, where he hosted royal visits including those of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. His work earned him an OBE.

Sarah sees that kind of history as part of who a person is. “When someone has served, that doesn’t stop at the door of a care home. Recognising it is how we protect identity and dignity.”

The Burlington thanks Paul and his colleagues from the branch.

At Boutique Care Homes, that is what Not Just Care. Life, Thriving. looks like: residents, families and the Legion shaping days that carry real meaning.

To see the Remembrance initiatives across Boutique Care Homes’ homes, visit each home’s Facebook page.