Don't dine alone - local care home opens its doors to lonely older people for Valentine's Day

Local care home Raleigh Manor in Exmouth is opening its doors to older people from the community to help tackle loneliness this Valentine’s Day.

The care home is inviting local elderly people, who might usually eat alone, to join the residents and teams at the home on 14th of February from 12.30pm for a delicious complimentary home-cooked three course meal.

Diners will be treated to a tasty, freshly-prepared three course lunch in the home’s dining room with music and friendly conversation. Guests will have a chance to chat to the home’s staff and residents, while enjoying their food, and will be able to partake in activities with those at the home after their meal.

The home’s Head Chef, Laszlo Hegyi will be producing a range of dishes to cover varied individual dietary needs and preferences, so diners were able to eat to their fill accompanied with a wide selection of beverages.

The ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative was launched by the home’s parent company, Barchester Healthcare, as a way to reach out to isolated or vulnerable members of their local communities. Barchester Healthcare is also behind Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, which is a registered charity that gives grants to older people and other adults with a disability to help combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged in the communities where the Barchester care homes operate.

Skye Jones, Deputy Manager at Raleigh Manor, said: “Loneliness can be a big problem for elderly people, especially at Valentine’s. Our doors are always open to new friends of the home.  We would love anyone who is feeling lonely to come and join us on February 14th.”

Raleigh Manor Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Raleigh Manor provides residential care, and dementia care for 75 residents from respite care to long term stays.