Our festive care homes are full of Christmas cheer!

At every one of our care homes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. There are so many beautiful home-made decorations and treat-filled Advent calendars in our care and nursing homes, that Canadian crooner, Michael Bublé, would feel right at home!

Carols at our care homes

The residents and care team at St Peter’s Park, our care home in Bexhill haven’t let COVID put a stop to their carol singing. Sadly there are no local carol services this year, and we can’t bring carol singers into our homes. So the St Peter’s Park team brought residents together in the lounge. They joined in with Shelter’s carol service from St Martins in the Fields on the residential care home’s big TV.

O, Christmas tree, O, Christmas tree

As you would imagine, each of our care homes has at least one Christmas tree as a festive focal point. But Rochester Care Home in Kent has five twinkling trees. And Tilford Care and Nursing Home in Farnham practically has a Christmas tree forest!

Chalgrove Care and Nursing Home in Poole has a stunning tree, accompanied by a teddy bear choir underneath.

Our lovely resident Hem at Waterloo Care Home in Wimborne received a beautiful Christmas tree from his grand-daughter. Generously, Hem asked for the team to put the tree into the residents’ lounge so everyone could enjoy it.

And over at Victory Care Home in Chatham, Jenny’s family delivered a tree for her to decorate.

The 12 days of Christmas

Advent calendars are a big favourite of the residents of our care homes. St. Peter’s Park has a reindeer Advent calendar carrying 24 little present sacks. Each day a resident finds a chocolate inside.

The residents of Cheriton Care Home in Dorchester also have Advent treats. And at Lansdowne Hill Care Home in Swindon the residents made a window Advent calendar, with paper houses and trees hanging from garlands across their big window. The calendar looks fabulous in the day, but absolutely stunning at night!

Let it snow!

There have been plenty of Christmas craft sessions at our homes. The residents at Waterloo Care Home in Wimborne got the glitter out to bring a little bling to giant card holly leaves.

Our care homes’ chief operating officer, Tim Buckley, shared a DIY paper snowflake video tutorial with our care and nursing homes. Rochester Care Home residents were inspired by the video and made some stunning red snowflakes.

Santa Claus is coming to town

The residents of Crecy Care Home in Weymouth wrote to Father Christmas with their Christmas wishes. Among the wishes for perfume, chocolate and flowers, Kathleen asked for a car and Neil wanted a surprise.

At St Peter’s Park, understandably, many of the wishes were for trips out. Derek was keen to look round a submarine, Mary wanted to go out for a meal with her son and daughter-in law, and Jean wished for a trip to the seaside.

We hope all our residents have all been good boys and girls this year!

We would like to thank everyone who has generously donated decorations to our care homes. Surrey Hill Balloons dropped off a tree and Nutcracker made from balloons to Tilford Care and Nursing Home.

Tesco donated mince pies, chocolates, biscuits and festive treats and Morrison’s donated 50 selection boxes.

Residents at Tilford SHALL go to the ball!

Traditional Christmas pantomimes may have been cancelled across the country, but the show must go on at Tilford Care and Nursing Home! The care and office teams have been practising their lines for weeks, ready for their big performance of Cinderella on Thursday 17 December. You can see what the team is up to on the Tilford Facebook page.