An Anchor care home in Manchester is leading the way with the Christmas spirit by opening its doors to local communities to help tackle isolation and loneliness.
Wellington Lodge in Cheetham Hill is among care homes across the north inviting older people including armed forces veterans to join in their Christmas Day celebrations.
The care home was successful in achieving the Royal Star and Garter’s Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status earlier this year.
Now colleagues at Wellington Lodge have organised a fun day of festive cheer for older people who are likely to find themselves alone on December 25. They are inviting people to get in touch so they can share the festivities.
The guests are invited to join for Christmas lunch, take part in festive activities, including games and sing-alongs, all free of charge.
David Wood, Anchor’s community partnership manager for both homes, said: “Christmas Day is traditionally a time when families and friends get together for a laugh and a chat over a delicious meal.
“But we know it can be an incredibly lonely time if you live on your own so we wanted to extend the warmth and companionship of our lovely home to anyone facing the day alone.
“We go all out at Christmas for our residents, because we are seen as their family so we’re happy to invite people in to join us for Christmas Day.”
Kathryn Glass, Royal Star and Garter’s VFF project lead, said: “This is a wonderful, community spirited initiative by Anchor’s care homes and very much in keeping with the spirit and caring ethos that resulted in them securing Veteran Friendly Framework status.
“I very much look forward to seeing photographs and hearing first hand accounts of how people from the local community benefited from being able to spend their Christmas at a care home in their town.”
The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in residential care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. It will help tackle loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England.
If you or someone you know would like to join Wellington Lodge residents on Christmas Day, you can contact the home on 0800 0854228. Places are limited and will be filled on a first-reserved basis.
