Local Care Homes to Open Its Doors This Christmas to Combat Loneliness in Older People
Douglas Court and Kiwi House Care Homes in Derby are embracing the spirit of giving this holiday season by extending a heartwarming invitation to older people in the community who would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone. The care homes are opening their doors on Christmas Day to welcome local, lonely seniors to join their residents for a joyous celebration, featuring a traditional Christmas dinner, party games, and a special viewing of the King’s Christmas speech.
Loneliness can be more prevalent during the festive period and when a Charity spoke to older people in August about their Christmas plans, almost 1.5 million over 65s said they usually feel lonelier at Christmas than any other time of year, and around one million said they will be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day.
With the holiday season approaching, Douglas Court and Kiwi House are dedicated to ensuring that no senior in their community feels isolated or forgotten during this festive time of year. The event, titled “Tis the Season To Be Together,” will bring together seniors from the local area to create new memories, share the warmth of the season and hopefully create some long lasting friendships.
“We believe that no one should be alone on Christmas Day. We want to create a warm and welcoming environment where everyone can come together to celebrate and share in the joy of the holiday,” said Colleen McKay, the Home Manager of Kiwi House. “Our residents are looking forward to having new friends join them, and we can’t wait to provide a special day full of laughter, delicious food, and camaraderie.”
The teams at Douglas Court and Kiwi House are actively requesting and collaborating with local community organisations and volunteers to try and make transportation available for those who require it. If anyone can help, please contact the home. The goal is to make participation in this heartwarming event as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
The event will take place at both Douglas Court and Kiwi House on Christmas Day, [25/12/23]. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP by 15th December 23 to help the care home make appropriate preparations.
Our homes believe that this initiative reflects the essence of the holiday season by uniting the community, fostering new friendships, and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the joy of Christmas. No one should have no one this Christmas.