Spend the holidays with the Barchester Family

Christmas is a special time of year, when most people want to be surrounded by those they love the most. However, this isn't always possible to see your family due to various reasons.

Although no one can replace the bond you have with your family, our teams at Barchester work closely with all of our residents to ensure they are as happy as possible. There are various ways that we make our care homes a welcoming and happy place across the festive period.

Bringing in the Christmas spirit

Christmas is a special time of year for many people and it's no different at any of our care homes. From hosting events such as carol singing and festive craft sessions to performing nativity plays and bringing in groups from the local community to sing songs, there's loads of ways to get involved. 

Of course, one of the biggest events is dinner on the day itself. Our chefs create and prepare a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, followed by present giving and the Queen’s speech.

Our homes also encourage residents to help decorate their own rooms, as well as communal areas. If you're planning on visiting a loved one over the Christmas period, expect to see Christmas trees and plenty of tinsel! This is a fantastic way to get everyone - carers included - into the spirit of the season.

Connecting with families

There are many residents that don't have family nearby or it's difficult for them to visit during the winter months. However, we try to use technology as much as we can to connect the people in our homes to their relatives.

Many of our residents use Skype or Facetime to speak with their family, especially younger grandchildren, on Christmas Day, while others write emails to stay in touch throughout the year.

For families that can't make it in on Christmas Day but want to see their loved one face-to-face, our care homes will ensure the residents connect with their family or friends through modern technology, to bring smiles and Christmas cheer, so everyone has a Christmas to remember. Many of our homes also host festive events throughout December as part of residents’ core activity programme, whilst we also encourage local community engagement.

Don’t Dine Alone

Many of our care home across the country are also opening their doors this Christmas period as part of our ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative. Our homes are inviting in older people from the local community to enjoy lunch with our care home staff and residents to help tackle loneliness this winter. Please contact your local Barchester care home for more information or search for your local Barchester care home here.

The Barchester family

We do our absolute best to make the Christmas period special for each and every one of our residents, especially those without regular visitors. This is often in the smaller details that come from knowing our residents and what's important to them. For many, Christmas is a nostalgic time, so we use music to help them remember some of their most well-loved memories and encourage them to share their stories.

Finding the right care home for your loved one can be difficult, but looking at how residents are prioritised throughout the year can make your decision easier.