Crowborough care home opens its doors for a merry good time

Snow is falling, children are playing – and a care home in Crowborough has opened its doors to help combat loneliness in the community this festive season.

Care UK’s Heather View, on Beacon Road, helped older members of the community get into the festive spirit with residents and team members by hosting a very special Christmas lunch.

The team had ‘decked the halls’ ahead of the festive feast and welcomed members of the All Saints and Crowborough Community Church for Christmas dinner, complete with turkey, pigs in blankets and all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding.

Everyone was also treated to a live performance of classic Christmas carols and songs from U2A Ukulele Group, which got everyone in the party spirit.

Studies have shown that almost 1.5 million older people feel lonelier at Christmas than any other time of year*. To help tackle loneliness, Care UK has launched its Care to Share initiative, designed to support older people through the festive season.  

More than 100 Care UK homes nationwide will be taking part to give older members of the community a safe and sociable space where they can enjoy some festive fun and good company – whether it’s singing along to Christmas carols or watching a Christmas movie with a mince pie. 

Continuing the festive celebrations, the home received a special visit from local students at Beacon Academy. The students donned festive hats and shared Christmas poems, stories, and songs with the residents, as well as playing games of cards.

Natasha King, Home Manager at Heather View, said: “Here at Heather View, we’re passionate about playing an active role in our community, so we were delighted to open our doors to members of the community this Christmas. 

“We know December can be a difficult month for many, so this was a wonderful opportunity to bring people together to get into the Christmas spirit and for everyone to build new friendships – as well as reminisce over fond festive memories.

“Thank you to the members of All Saints and Crowborough community churches for joining us and helping us kick off our Christmas celebrations!”  

Heather View has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite and palliative care. The home has its own space for activities, as well as a cinema, sensory room and café.