Care Home Residents deliver letters of kindness to local school children

A Buxton Nursing home has recently posted a series of handwritten joyful letters to local school children who wrote to them over the Christmas period.

During the festive season, Portland Nursing Home received  Christmas letters from Chapel-en-le-Frith High School children.

The letters contained beautiful drawings including rainbows, Christmas decorations and snowmen.

Thanks to the partnership, every resident at Portland Nursing Home enjoyed reading the  letters and has now written and delivered their letters in reply, forging intergenerational friendships.

Portland Nursing Home also paired with local Buxton Parish Churches during 2021, in order to enable residents to make new connections with local people through receiving postcards.

Emilie Shrimpton, activities coordinator at Portland Nursing Home facilitated the partnership with Chapel-en-le-FrithHigh School. 

Speaking of the letters, Emilie said; “It was so lovely for the residents to receive such kind letters from the school children over the Christmas period. It’s so important for our residents to feel connected to people of all ages in their local community. The residents have been eager to write their letters in response to the school children, so to post them recently was really exciting for them!”

Emilie recently accompanied Ruth, a resident at Portland Nursing Home when she went to deliver the letters.

Chapel-en-le-Frith High School teacher, Rosie Scott, who has been organising the letters said: “It is wonderful to see our community coming together. The project has brought so much joy to our students”.

Social connection for elderly people is critical, playing an essential role in their mental, emotional and physical health. Allowing elderly people to develop strong social networks with the local community provides a sense of comfort, togetherness and is also a healthy hobby that allows a better quality of life and superior overall health and wellness. 

Portland Nursing Home is pleased to be welcoming new residents. They have specific procedures in place to continue to support families who are looking for care for a loved one, while minimising the risk of the pandemic for residents and staff.

The specialist home has a team of dedicated care staff who provide around the clock nursing care for residents. For more information on Portland Nursing Home, or to take a look around the home, please call 01298 23040 or visit  https://www.portlandnursinghome.co.uk