Christmas card scheme for care homes to spread festive cheer

An Angus care home worker is appealing for help to spread festive cheer to pensioners.

Arbroath woman Shona Preston wants to revive the dying tradition of giving Christmas cards, saying elderly people miss them most.

The 28-year-old works as an activities co-ordinator in Arbroath’s Monkbarns Care Home.

Shona said: “I remember growing up that my mum’s house was always filled with Christmas cards bringing seasonal greetings from family and friends.

“Not so many people seem to send cards these days and it’s the older people who miss this most.

“There are also many elderly people who no longer have anyone left to send them a card and it’s really very sad and upsetting.

“This is something that they really miss because it brings so much happiness to them.

“Something as simple as this can have a huge impact on the day for an elderly person.”

Shona said she was asking people in the community to consider writing an extra card this year and handing it into the care home, or another facility nearer them.

“I’m doing this first of all for Monkbarns, although I would encourage anyone to write an extra card and hand it in to a care home close to them,” she said.

Shona said a similar initiative she ran previously involving sending postcards was successful.

“If we can do the same at Christmas time it will bring so much happiness to very many lonely people,” she said.

“A simple card can make all the difference to an elderly person’s Christmas.”