Lifelong Best friends Reunited After Moving into Neighbouring Care Homes
As the famous song by Andrew Gould says, ‘Thank you for being a friend, travel down the road and back again your heart is true you’re a pal and a confidante.’
These words were never truer for best friends Sylvia and Ida who have been reunited after unknowingly moving into care homes next door to each other.
At Orchard House Care Home family, friends and community are at the heart of the home. The dedicated team are passionate about supporting those who are living within the home to lead meaningful, fulfilled and active lives.
When a new resident moves in to the nursing, dementia and residential home, an important part of those initial few weeks is getting to know them and their life history.
The remarkable discovery was made by Lifestyle Lead Miranda Robinson soon after Sylvia moved in and she mentioned that her best friend Ida had moved to a home called, ‘Glenfield’ which just so happened to be next door.
When Sylvia moved in to Orchard House Care Home, in Wisbech Cambridgeshire she could never have imagined that she would be reunited with her best friend of over 90 years.
‘Sylvia had no idea that Glenfield Care Home was right next door! So, when I discovered this, I immediately rang my counterpart at the home to arrange a meeting with her best friend Ida.’
They homes were both able to arrange a meeting really quickly to reunite the best friends. ‘It was so lovely to see the reunion, they quickly got back into the swing of things by telling us about people they both knew in the area and the group at the church they used to attend.’
Sylvia said “It’s so nice to see Ida again and bring our care homes together. I’m looking forward to spending more time together and catching up regularly over tea and cake!’
Sylvia and Ida who are both an impressive 93 years of age, have been best friends since they could walk. Both of their mothers were close friends and growing up they did so much together; even meeting their husbands!
They both really enjoyed ballroom dancing, which is where they met their husbands, who became close friends as well, going on holidays together and day trips out.
Ida said, ‘This has been the longest we’ve spent apart, I can’t believe that Sylvia has moved in next door, it’s lovely we are neighbours!’
Now that the friends have been reunited there are lots of future plans for regular catch ups and for Ida to join in the regular events which Orchard House hold weekly, which of course includes plenty of occasions for chats over tea and cake!
