To say it has been a difficult year would be an understatement. Covid restrictions and concerns have been at the forefront of all we do, and the impact has been felt by residents and staff alike.

However, at Mary Rose Manor while we acknowledge the stresses and strains, we have endeavoured to remain positive and ensure our residents have the most jolly and happy festive season as we could manage! Our Manager led the festive charge by arranging that our Christmas trees were erected early this year. Tall, full, and brimming with baubles, trees dotted around the whole home raised smiles as soon as they appeared. Morale improved quickly with staff looking ahead to the fun festive season, as opposed to the stresses of the year thus far. Not long after, Christmas carols could be heard throughout the home, played in lounges to boost spirits.

One of the most noticeable differences to previous years was the lack of visits from friends and family. To aid with contact with loved ones and to kick off our seasonal activities, the residents enjoyed making, or assisting to make, Christmas cards. These were passed onto loved ones during socially distanced pod visits and were very much appreciated. The personal nature of the cards being handmade with their own messages bought some very touching moments.

We have been very touched by support from our local community this year. They too are aware how difficult it has been for our residents and we received some beautiful gifts and donations throughout the festive time. Hampers full to the brim with sweet treats and Christmas goodies, toiletries and pamper gifts, handmade biscuits and so very many chocolates!

The most touching gifts came from our local nurseries and schools. Literally hundreds of handmade, handwritten cards and letters for our residents with the aim to ensure no one feels lonely this Christmas. Some included touching messages of hope and goodwill and others even had jokes written in to make the residents smile. We had many poignant moments showing and reading these to those we support, and even those with little or no family are now surrounded with words of positivity and kindness.

Some of our residents had commented how much they were missing visits from Cooper, the therapy dog, especially during December as they enjoyed seeing him dressed up in festive costume!  Whilst Cooper and mum Michelle are unable to visit currently, they very kindly sent cards and gifts to us at the home with seasonal greetings and hopes to visit soon.

The whole staffing team came together through the festive period and as we drew closer to Christmas, more carols were being hummed, conversations of a reminiscent nature could be heard with the residents about what Christmas means to them. Upbeat Christmas music was played more, and Christmas hats and badges began to appear. One of our staff members bought goodies herself and set up a hot chocolate trolley and took it round the home. We re-dressed our confectionary trolley with lights, bows and tinsel and it was filled with cream, marshmallows, sweets, cakes, and biscuits as well as delicious hot chocolate for a lovely cosy afternoon treat.

The yearly Mary Rose Manor tradition of ‘Pressies for Ressies’ began. This initiative was begun by a staff member a few years ago, with the aim of leaving no resident without a gift at Christmas. Staff are invited, if they wish, to buy a Christmas present for a randomly drawn resident, who they then open the gift with at Christmas. This goodwill activity generates much excitement over the period, with discussions about who’s-buying-what-for-who and the generosity of our team again this year ensured each resident had a special gift. We were also helped along by a lovely local lady (who wishes to remain nameless) with a donation boost, again showing how lucky we are to live amongst such kindness.

Alongside, we also run ‘Secret Santa’ for the staff which never fails to boost festive morale!! As the names are randomly selected, it has also been a great way for the team to get to know one another a little better and adds a little more excitement and anticipation to the season.

Staff were also invited to wear pjs on Christmas eve, and a Christmas jumper/dress on christmas day, for a small donation. Not only does this raise funds for future events, but it’s also another team morale event that raises smiles and many laughs!

As well as the staff dressing up, we were lucky to be visited by ‘Alan Christmas’!

Alan joined the festive frivolity by donning the Santa suit and handing chocolates all around the home. This impromptu visitor received many smiles and was a great spirit booster on a grey December afternoon!

And on Christmas day, we were visited by the man himself!! As he does each year, Father Christmas spent time with each resident with seasonal greetings and plenty of ho ho ho’s! This is of course our deputy manager who dons the suit each year, normally visited in his grotto by families and children. He really was a highlight of Christmas day. Amongst carols, greetings, present opening, sweet treats, eating, dinners,watching movies, surprises, laughs, love and hope. It may have been a different Christmas, but we made it our own, for our residents.