Spreading kindness and joy to care homes across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre this year by adding an extra few cards on your lists

That is the harsh reality for 200,000 older people in the UK, who haven’t had the chance to speak to any friends or family for more than a month.

And 60 per cent of people living in care homes get no visitors at all, according to figures from Age UK.

Cards for Kindness is an initiative originally set up by Lancashire County Council in 2018 and this year’s event commencing will start on December 1, in a bid to reduce loneliness by encouraging members of the community to send a card to a local care home.

Dozens of Fylde coast care homes are on board with the scheme, along with other residential homes from the rest of the county.

Sam McAughey from Kepplegate House Care Home in Preesall, inset below, said the smiles on the residents’ faces show how much the cards mean to them.

He said: “We’ve been doing the Christmas cards for kindness since last year and it was just great to connect with other care homes and other people.

“For example during lockdown we have taking part in virtual activities with other care homes and it’s great to see into their homes.

“ It builds that connection with other people and especially around Christmas, and certainly the one this year, when not a lot canhappen.

“We’ve actually been contacted by a local school to see if we can continue one of these connections after the Christmas period and it would be like a pen pal project with children and our residents.

“It’s amazing to just see the smiles on their faces of actually receiving a Christmas card from somebody, for example who could live in London, as we have had lots of cards from there.

“We have had cards from people in Scotland and lots of other places and just to see that somebody from there has taken the time out of the day to write cards to us, you just see the smiles on the resident’s faces and it’s just incredible.”

Sam explained how even one card can make adifference to someone in a care home.

He said: “When we did it last year we got around 20 cards, which doesn’t seem a lot but we are a 16-bedroom home so that was really amazing for just a small home over her to get that.

“I think we’re getting about one or two a week at the moment so hopefully we’re getting more thanwe did last year.

“To see the kindness in other people is just brilliant really and to see that from us being just a small care home in Preesall and receiving these cards from people all the country who took a couple of minutes out of the day just to spread that kindness especially over Christmas where it’s not going to be the same. Our residents and their families realised that as well and they are so grateful for everything.”

Blackpool Council is also taking part in the initiative and Jo Farrell, the cabinet member responsible for adult social care and health, is urging residents to join in with the campaign.

She said: “We’re proud to be involved with the regional campaign to tackle loneliness amongst care home residents, even more so considering the ongoing challenges faced during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Cards for Kindness is a wonderful initiative which takes place at a particularly poignant time of year. Christmas and the New Year can often bring about feelings of isolation and sadness.

“It’s always a lovely feeling to receive something nice in the post so if our residents could spare a small amount of time it could make a big difference to care home residents in Blackpool.

"Make your own card, write a poem, draw a festive picture – or simply write a message in a greetings card.

“We urge our local residents to take the time to get involved and hope that this initiative will inspire other groups to take positive action in helping us to tackle loneliness during the festive period.”

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, care homes have been in the firing line from families desperate to see loved ones who have been shut away.

The Gazette reported that last month, Lancashire County Council had last month drawn up plans to make it possible for residents to see their loved ones as cases of the virus continued to spread in the borough.

Fears of elderly family members - people’s mothers, fathers and grandparents ‘withering away’ became a growing concern for families unable to see them in months.

There are more than 11,000 people living in the region’s care homes and because of the Covid-19 outbreak and restrictions in place, some of their residents may face feelings of loneliness and isolation more than ever this year.

This new initiative has been praised by Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult services in Lancashire, who said the scheme would bring a ‘world of difference’ to someone’s life this year.

He said: “The restrictions that are in place to stop the spread of coronavirus and reduce the pressure on our NHS are crucial.

“However, they will mean that many more of the 11,000 people who live in the county’s 425 care homes have massively reduced opportunities for visitors and won’t be able to go home and stay with relatives. Other residents don’t have friends or family to visit them at all.

“Staff in the care homes do an absolutely superb job organising activities to ensure communities who live there can socialise and connect to each other.

“However, despite their best efforts, the problem of loneliness and isolation is set to be an even bigger issue this year because of the pandemic. This is a massive problem as figures show that living in isolation can have a similar effect on our health than smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

“We’d encourage everyone to help us combat loneliness by sending a card to their local care home. It will also be a great way to show appreciation to care home staff for their hard work too.”

How you can help

To send a card all you need to do is write one, attach a stamp and pick a local care home to send it to.

The initative has also designed five different Christmas cards which can be download and printed at home.

Any care homes that would look to be involved in Cards For Kindness can contact via www.healthierlsc.co.uk/CardsForKindness

People can also spread the word by downloading campaign materials to use on websites or social media accounts.

There is also a Cards for Kindness campaign poster to display in your homes, workplaces and local community venues.

A spokesman for the initiatice said people can also join the conversation on social media using #CardsForKindness

The care homes that are taking part:

- Breck Lodge Care Home in Poulton-le-Fylde

- Delaheys Nursing Home in St Annes

- Milbanke in Kirkham

- Stella Matutina Care Home in Lytham

- The Hamptons Care Centre in St Annes

- The Old Vicarage in Freckleton

- Cornmill Nursing Home in Garstang

- Bowgreave Rise in Garstang

-Conifers Care Home in Thornton

- Kepplegate House Care Home in Preesall

- Oaklands in Garstang

- St Albans Nursing Home in Knott-End

- Thornton House in Thornton

- Alistre Lodge in St Annes

- The Yachtsman Care Home in Fleetwood

- New Thursby Care Home in St Annes

- Amber Court Care Home in Blackpool

- Napier Lodge Care Home in Blackpool

- Rosewood Lodge in St Annes

- Annacliffe Residential Care Home in Blackpool

- The Owls Care Home in Blackpool

- Rosehaven Care Home in Blackpool

The full address details of the care homes taking part can be found at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/CardsForKindness

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