How a Jarrow care home is helping to fight loneliness among older people this Christmas

Once again staff at Palmersdene, on Grange Road West in Jarrow, has extended an invitation to members of the community to spend Christmas Day with them as part of its mission to ensure no one is alone this festive season.

On the day – which is free of charge - the guests will be able to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner and buffet tea, along with a day of festive activities.

Guests will even be picked up in a taxi on Christmas morning and will be taken home at the end of the day.

Palmersdene cares for elderly people and offer specialised services for people with dementia.

This year the care home is also celebrating a raft of achievements having seen members of staff shortlisted for the regional final of the Great British Care Awards.

The home has invited members of the community to join them at Christmas for a number of years and is continuing to extend the invitation once again this year.

Maureen McCulloch, manager at Palmersdene, said: “Christmas Day can be an incredibly lonely time if you live on your own.

“We wanted to extend the warmth and companionship of our lovely home to anyone facing the day alone.

“We go all out at Christmas for our residents, because some of them don’t have anyone else and we are seen as their family so we’re happy to invite some people in to join us for Christmas Day.

“Previous years have been very successful where the people from the community had a lovely day.

“We’ll pick them up in a taxi on the morning and they can spend all day with us and we’ll then organise for them to get taken home.”

If you, or someone you know, would like to join Palmersdene residents on Christmas Day please call manager Maureen McCulloch on 0191 4280660 ext 2.

Places are limited and will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.