Four-year-old Alisha paints flowers for elderly care home residents

FLOWERS have bloomed on a care home wall after four-year-old Alisha Brown was let loose with a paint brush.

The youngster adorned the wall in the “indoor garden” during a recent visit to Willowdene Care Home, on Victoria Road West, in Hebburn.

Alisha is the daughter of carer Jade Taylor and chef Craige Brown, who both work at the home.

She was brought in by her parents to help paint the wall with residents Harry West, 76, and Margaret Branch, 87, ahead of starting school in September.

Harry said: “I enjoyed talking to Alisha and seeing her smile while she was painting. I love to see children visiting the home.”

Margaret added: “Alisha has painted such beautiful flowers.”

The home’s indoor garden includes walls painted to resemble the outdoors, trellises on the walls, a shed and bird sounds played from a CD to give residents a feeling of being outside.

Christine Chandler, activities coordinator at Willowdene Care Home, said: “The flowers were the finishing touches to the indoor garden.

“Alisha was so creative with her designs and very sweet with the residents. The residents loved having Alisha here.

“We believe it is so important to foster intergenerational contact, as there are benefits for both the young and elderly in spending time with each other.”

Alisha’s mother, Jade said: “Alisha said she loved Christine and had so much fun.”