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Cozy Kitchen stirs up memories and smiles at Westmount Gardens
Resident-led cooking program blends favourite recipes, social connection and opportunities to learn together
9/11/2026
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Deron Hamel
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Pictured above, Westmount Gardens residents prepare some of their favourite meals and snacks during the Cozy Kitchen program.
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A program developed by two life enrichment team members is encouraging Westmount Gardens residents to prepare and enjoy some of their long-time favourite meals and snacks.
Cozy Kitchen is the brainchild of team members Li and Ally. Launched in January, it has become a favourite activity and has been “a big hit” with many residents of the London, Ont. long-term care community, explains Adnan Resh, Westmount Gardens' life enrichment manager.
Some of the meals and treats residents have prepared and enjoyed include soup, angel food cupcakes, pancakes and muffins.
“I stopped in a few times and realized how engaged the residents were in the program,” Adnan tells S&R Today. “Ally and Li are amazing at involving the residents in the program and helping with whatever is in mind that day for the food program.”
Adnan says Cozy Kitchen's core strengths are that it brings back fond memories of cooking and baking while encouraging residents to socialize, be creative and share tips with one another.
In some cases, cooking and baking are new experiences for residents, and Cozy Kitchen has encouraged them to learn something new.
All the food is made from scratch, Adnan notes, adding that, given its success, he expects the program will remain on the monthly activity calendar for a long time.
“I think that this is a program that will continue on for a while, as the interest is there and the residents seem to enjoy it,” he says.
Ally says she and Li started the program because they both enjoy cooking, baking and learning from residents. The program, she adds, has also proven to be a valuable way to help residents reminisce.
“It brings back a lot of memories for the residents who spent many years cooking and baking for their families,” Ally says. “They don't get the chance very often to do it anymore, so we ask them what they would like to make and if they have any family recipes they enjoy.”
The team members are also learning from the residents.
“We learn a lot from the residents, and they give us lots of tips and tricks and very honest feedback,” Ally says.
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