“We had a lot of fun that night,” says Elmwood programs manager Patricia Kuhnen-Beaver.

The Revera long-term care homes are located in London. The Dec. 17 event was the second annual, as last year the residents had a warm reception and this year they “wanted to really blow their socks off,” she says.

When the buses planned to transport residents that evening didn’t arrive they had to do some improvisation while the home arranged for taxicabs.

Brenda Page, a member of Elmwood’s housekeeping staff, volunteers to run the resident choir. Her family members performed at McGarrell until the Elmwood residents arrived.

“We had lots of support and even though our bus didn’t show we actually saved money using the cabs and it was a lot more exciting, so the show must go on,” says Kuhnen-Beaver, noting their late arrival was made light of with jokes throughout the evening.

Elmwood Place resident Joyce Gillan says the Dec. 17 event was “a lot of fun.”

Gillan was the emcee of the evening, which featured Elmwood Place’s resident choir as well as some dancing and jokes.

“It was the shortest, funnest time we ever had,” says Gillan.

“I love to talk to people and I love to joke and I love to dance,” says Gillan when asked what she enjoys about being an emcee.

She says the McGarrell Place residents didn’t seem to mind that they arrived late.

“They waited and they cheered us on when we came and cheered us when we left, and that’s all that really matters,” says the 84-year-old.

A few of the planned performances had to be omitted due to the late arrival, and some McGarrell residents stayed up later to see the show.

Program director at McGarrell Place Robyn Lyttle says “the residents absolutely loved” the evening.

“The emcee from Elmwood was excellent, the singing was sensational,” says Lyttle.

The residents benefit from having the opportunity to meet residents from a different home, adds Lyttle.

“Rather than just having a normal entertainer that we always have it's something different and unique for the residents,” she says.

Kuhnen-Beaver says many of the residents reminisce when they hear holiday favourites, and they were invited to sing-a-long.

“When they hear those songs . . . it brought back a lot of smiles for people, and it’s not like we were singing at them, they were all singing together so it’s really nice,” says Kuhnen-Beaver.

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