Nursing homes for actors

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
Whenever I hear of actors and showbusiness persons passing away, I am curious about how they have often spent their last years in specialist care homes, for theatre people.

So, what kind of care do they have there? I can certainly imagine it will need to specific for often very famous and larger than life characters. Special privacy and protection from prying eyes.

I hope it is ok for me to ask about this because I am asking simply out of respectful curiosity. I always feel especially sad that those who gave us so much laughter and entertainment, become frail and often must forget their achievements and wonderful lives of fame.
 

CallMeKate said:
I don't think I've ever heard of a "celebrity" ending up in a nursing facility, Rose. (Of course I could be wrong... never been into celebrities at *all.*) Usually they have caregivers and even medical "teams" available at their residence.
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Jean Boht, who died today, was at Denville House, London.
Mike Yarmouth was at Brinsworth House, Twickenham.
I expect there must be total privacy and specialist trained staff there, who must understand the unique needs of very famous people.
 

Rose65 said:
Jean Boht, who died today, was at Denville House, London.
Mike Yarmouth was at Brinsworth House, Twickenham.
I expect there must be total privacy and specialist trained staff there, who must understand the unique needs of very famous people.
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Ah, I keep forgetting that your questions are generally about UK news that we don't often recognize if we live in other parts of the world.
 
Rose65 said:
Whenever I hear of actors and showbusiness persons passing away, I am curious about how they have often spent their last years in specialist care homes, for theatre people.

So, what kind of care do they have there? I can certainly imagine it will need to specific for often very famous and larger than life characters. Special privacy and protection from prying eyes.

I hope it is ok for me to ask about this because I am asking simply out of respectful curiosity. I always feel especially sad that those who gave us so much laughter and entertainment, become frail and often must forget their achievements and wonderful lives of fame.
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they're not specialist in that they get any more care than other elderly care homes for non Biz people.. but those few which are specifically meant for the showbiz fraternity...that's actors, and anyone else connected with Showbusiness..

Denville Hall and Brinxworth house are the most well known.

It means that they get residential and or nursing care in an environment where they know everyone.. .costs aren't any higher generally than any Non Showbiz Care home..but Many very well known Actor and TV personalities support their upkeep..

Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery and Dickie Attenboroough among others donated their fees to build Denville hall

The other well known one here in the South is Brinsworth house in Twickenham.. @moviequeen1 will be interested to know that the latter Home for Showbiz entertainers, is close to where her sister lives in Twickenham

ETA I have some friends in those homes.. I have visited people there in the past they are very nice places , with their own social club/Bars
 
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hollydolly said:
they're not specialist in that they get any more care than other elderly care homes for non Biz people.. but those few which are specifically meant for the showbiz fraternity...that's actors, and anyone else connected with Showbusiness..

Denville Hall and Brinxworth house are the most well known.

It means that they get residential and or nursing care in an environment where they know everyone.. .costs aren't any higher generally than any Non Showbiz Care home..but Many very well known Actor and TV personalities support their upkeep..

Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery and Dickie Attenboroough among others donated their fees to build Denville hall

The other well known one here in the South is Brinsworth house in Twickenham.. @moviequeen1 will be interested to know that the latter Home for Showbiz entertainers, is close to where her sister lives in Twickenham

ETA I have some friends in those homes.. I have visited people there in the past they are very nice places , with their own social club/Bars
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That's marvelous.
 
In So Cal there is indeed a retirement community for retired actors and others in that industry - both in front of and behind the scenes people.

The Motion Picture and Television Fund (started in 1921) helps support industry people in need. The hospital/nursing home opened in 1948 in Woodland Hills, CA (about 45 minutes from Hollywood). Numerous related MPTF support centers have sprung up on the 48 acre campus over the years, including the Motion Picture Country House.

I know people who've volunteered there as part of their school, church or temple volunteer obligations. All have said it's a beautiful campus and a lovely place to volunteer.

The night before the Oscars The MPTF hosts an annual star-studded "night before" party/fundraiser that supports their charitable works including the Woodland Hills campus.
Residential | MPTF

Numerous celebrities spent their final days on this campus from Bud Abbott to Mary Astor to Yvonne DeCarlo to Larry Fine & Curly Howard (3 Stooges), Harold Gould, Stanley Kramer, Ida Lupino, Joesl McCrea, Donald O'Connor, Helen Reddy, Jay Silverheels (Tonto to the Lone Ranger), Forrest Tucker, Johnny Weismuller, and many, many more.
 
Denville Hall and Brinsworth House are not the only care homes for ageing actors in the UK. There are several others.

Some are self funding. Some are paid for by local authorities or councils for all or part of the care. While others in certain circumstanmces can have NHS funding.

Many famous celebrities have stayed at these homes either long term or short stays including Sir Richard Attenborough. At the moment Marianne Faithfull is receiving treatment for a lung condition at Denville Hall.

When I was a student of opera and piano, we were invited many times to perform at these homes. Loved it and the attention we received from the “pros”, not to mention the wonderful advice!
 
There are several homes for actors, there was a play/film,
made about one many years ago, it was a comedy with
many famous actors in it, it might have done been to get
some income for the homes.

There was even one in Southport for old Newspaper Reporters.

Mike.
 
Rose65 said:
Whenever I hear of actors and showbusiness persons passing away, I am curious about how they have often spent their last years in specialist care homes, for theatre people.

So, what kind of care do they have there? I can certainly imagine it will need to specific for often very famous and larger than life characters. Special privacy and protection from prying eyes.

I hope it is ok for me to ask about this because I am asking simply out of respectful curiosity. I always feel especially sad that those who gave us so much laughter and entertainment, become frail and often must forget their achievements and wonderful lives of fame.
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Denville Hall & Other Care Homes of the Rich & Famous​

Care Homes of the Famous (Denville Hall, Brinsworth House, etc) | Lottie
 
I always wanted to see Sean Connery playing an old aging and senile James Bond in a nursing home that has other residents that were villians that James Bond tangled with when he was younger, that he thought were dead. Imagine .007 in a motorized wheel chair chasing Ernst Stavro Blofeld (his greatest enemy), Dr. No, Goldfinger, and agents of SPECTRE around the halls and having shootouts, forcing staff and other residents to dive for cover. Maybe later, the nursing home would have some entertainment featuring a much older Shirley Bassey singing, Goldfinger, Diamond Are Forever, and Moonraker.
 
Here in downtown Toronto the Canadian Actor's Union ACTRA has 2 retirement buildings for their retired union members to live in. Reduced rents, and available health care 24/7. JimB.
 
jimintoronto said:
Here in downtown Toronto the Canadian Actor's Union ACTRA has 2 retirement buildings for their retired union members to live in. Reduced rents, and available health care 24/7. JimB.
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No reduced rents in our homes for actors... very expensive to live there, but also actors can place their family members in there too if they're ill or recovering from illness like a stroke .., and of course if the Actor is willing to pay.

Some actors have been in these homes for many years... because of ill health.
 
hollydolly said:
No reduced rents in our homes for actors... very expensive to live there, but also actors can place their family members in there too if they're ill or recovering from illness like a stroke .., and of course if the Actor is willing to pay.

Some actors have been in these homes for many years... because of ill health.
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ACTRA union members are not JUST actors, they are also all of the behind the camera techs, crafts people, costumers, editors and a dozen other trades groups. My Wife's younger son Mike is a ACTRA union member. He designs and creates puppets, and sets, and hand builds props. He has a Master's in Fine Arts from Cambridge University in the UK. JimB.
 

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