Beating loneliness at Christmas

Kingsley Healthcare has again launched Come Dine With Us, inviting lonely pensioners into its care homes across East Anglia over the festive period.   For the third year running, all the company’s elderly care homes will be opening their doors on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day for local pensioners to enjoy good company, festive food and entertainment. Numbers will be strictly limited and people wanting to take up the free offer are asked to ring their local home in advance.

Find your local Kingsley home on our website, www.kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk.

The initiative is a response to Age UK figures that reveal Christmas is the loneliest time of the year for over 1.5 million older people, with those who have lost a loved one struggling the most. With up to 170,000 older people soon to face their first Christmas without their spouse, the charity has called on the public for support.

Kingsley’s head of public relations, Stephen Pullinger, said: “The festive period can be a very lonely time for people if they are unable to share it with their family. That is especially the case for older people if they have lost their partners and are on their own.  

“As well as reaching out to older people directly, we would also encourage local community groups, churches and health and social professionals to spread the word so deserving people hear about the opportunity.  

“Kingsley Healthcare is a family run business and we pride ourselves on being good neighbours and at the heart of the local community.”