Social Care News

Care home provider makes residents’ wishes come true

Residents from Hallmark's care homes in Wales will write their hearts desire on a star this December and enter the company's Christmas wish-granting competition.

More than 1,000 – including 93-year-old Elizabeth Charlton, pictured right – will be encouraged to enter a competition called Lucky Star. Lucky Star runs throughout December until January 6 and encourages residents to make a wish, no matter how big or small, and hang it on the Christmas tree in the home.

Each resident will have assistance to make a wish from the home’s nominated 'fairy godmother', who will dress up and positively engage with the residents throughout the Christmas period. In the New Year, Hallmark Care Homes managing director Avnish Goyal will review all of the wishes which have been made and will make at least two wishes from each of their 15 homes come true.

Mr Goyal said: “All our residents get  presents from Hallmark on Christmas Day, but by getting to know what they would really like to do or have gives us an opportunity to truly enhance their happiness and make a difference.

“We decided to launch this competition because we wanted to give our residents an opportunity to have something or to do something they thought they’d never get a chance to do again. It could be anything from seeing their favourite show in the West End to visiting their place of birth or a long-lost relative. It’s also a great reminiscence activity, particularly for our residents living with dementia.”

Wishes that were granted from last year’s competition included reuniting a resident with his teenage sweetheart after 20 years apart and taking a resident to celebrate her 95th birthday at the Ritz.

The 2016 Lucky Star winners will be announced in the New Year.