The Mellowes Bupa Care Home in Gillingham has put out a festive plea to their local community to send in messages of yuletide cheer to residents and staff this Christmas.

Receiving a Christmas card is a great way to boost morale, well-being and a sense of belonging, which is why the Bupa care home team in Gillingham is calling on their local community to help spread some joy and rally a sense of togetherness during the festive period.

Hoping to make residents feel more connected to their local communities, the cards received will be opened and placed around the home for everyone to read and enjoy.

When asked what it means to care home residents to receive a Christmas card, Balazs Salamon, Home Manager at The Mellowes, commented: ‘Sending and receiving cards is a tradition that many of our residents’ love, so this Christmas we wanted to make the winter season extra special by calling on our local communities to surprise our residents with lots of lovely cards.’

Balazs continued: ‘We know that receiving a card full of festive well wishes would really mean the world to our residents this year. It’s a small gesture of kindness which would have such a positive impact, providing residents with a great sense of warmth, support, and togetherness – the ultimate definition of festive cheer!’

The care home team has also called out for Christmas cards with the knowledge that, whilst Christmas is a time for joy and family, it can sometimes be an emotional time for those reflecting on loved ones who have passed.

Balazs added: ‘At Bupa we are committed to making every day as happy as possible, but we are also aware that some days are harder for those residents who don’t have relatives to share celebrations with. That’s why this Christmas, we aim to receive enough cards so that each resident feels extra loved and special.’

She concluded: ‘We know how wonderful our local community is and are hopeful that people will come together in a show of festive spirit to boost everyone’s moods in the homes and make it an even merrier Christmas.’

Anyone wishing to send a Christmas card to the Bupa care home can post them to the following address: The Mellowes Bupa Care Home, Common Mead Ln, Gillingham SP8 4RE.

The Mellowes Bupa Care Home is situated in Gillingham and welcomes residents in need of nursing or residential care. For further information, please visit https://www.bupa.co.uk/care-services