Christmas is a magical time of year and allows people the opportunity to give back and brighten the lives of their community’s most vulnerable.
This Christmas, Santa’s little elves are getting some help as Home Instead Central Coast, in collaboration with local school children are decorating and delivering 650 handwritten Christmas cards to residents across various local aged care facilities and hospitals. Facilities include Oak Tree Retirement Village, Wamberal Gardens Retirement Village, The Cove Retirement Village, Aurrum Aged Care, Gosford Public Hospital – Palliative Care Ward (AS) and Geriatric Units and Wyong Public Hospital and Woy Woy Public Hospital Geriatric Units.
Oak Tree Retirement Village resident Narelle says “I absolutely enjoyed our morning tea and opening the Christmas card and seeing the fabulous artwork the little kids had made. It just melted my heart, with eight grand kids and one I haven’t met yet in Western Australia.”
Home Instead are a locally based in-home care and companionship service on the Central Coast and are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of local seniors and their families to ensure they have access to the best quality care services and support they need to continue living safely, independently, and happily in the comfort of their own home.
“Our Be a Santa to a Senior is a wonderful program to bring holiday joy to our local seniors. I have seen firsthand the big smiles that light up their face when opening their beautifully decorated Christmas card from local pre-schoolers.
“Many of our local seniors have felt isolated from families and friends and especially grand and great grandchildren over the last few years and we wanted to bring them a little holiday cheer this year”, says Samantha Farham from Home Instead Central Coast.
Home Instead Central Coast have teamed up with the students from St John the Baptist Early Learning Centre – Woy Woy, Sprout Early Learning Centre – Terrigal, Guardian Childcare & Education – Blackwall, The Lighthouse Early Learning Centre – Daleys Point, Little Coast Kids – Northlakes and Good Start Early Learning Child Care Centre – Tuggerah to decorate and deliver these handwritten cards.
“I like making people happy and making cards for other Grammies like mine!”, says Flynn D, aged 3.
Home Instead Central Coast, in collaboration with local school children are decorating and delivering 650 handwritten Christmas cards 
Flynn D, aged 3