Residents in Newtown are being urged to share the Christmas spirit with the elderly and vulnerable in the town.
With Christmas just two weeks away, the lead up to and the festive season itself can be a lonely time for those living alone or without family around them.
Newtown-based care agency Abacare has issued a plea to residents to call on neighbours and others and spread the festive cheer.
It comes after the agency launched its Shoebox Appeal.
Peter Angelides, CEO of Abacare, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family but there are some people out there, our service users included, that do not have many, if any, friends or family nearby so we’re asking anyone who knows of an elderly or vulnerable person near to them, to pay them some extra special attention during the festivities.
“It could be a small gesture of popping in to say ‘hello’ and stopping for a cup of tea or perhaps taking them a box full of winter essentials. If you know of anyone who might be alone then inviting them round for Christmas lunch could really make their year.
“Our carers become a much needed friendly face to our service users around Christmas time and many of them still visit them over the festive period, including on Christmas Day.”
Abacare recently launched its Shoebox Appeal and is asking people to donate shoeboxes full of essentials and other bits and pieces to help brighten up a person’s day.
Any shoeboxes can be dropped off or sent to Abacare’s offices at St David’s House, New Street, Newtown, Powys, SY16 1RB. The deadline for boxes to be sent is Friday, December 16.
Abacare will then distribute any donations amongst its service users.
As part of its aim to combat social isolation Abacare also provides personality matches when pairing up its carers with service users.
If carers and service users have similar interests they will be paired up, giving the elderly people someone they can trust and get on with on a daily basis.
Peter added: “We are always working to battle social isolation among our elderly and vulnerable service users. Providing emotional care is just as important as the physical and we are doing our upmost to make sure our service users don’t feel lonely or isolated, especially in the winter months.
“We wish you an Aba-Christmas – which we say is a caring Christmas. We wish to deliver care to those we look after over Christmas the way we would like to be cared for at Christmas.”
