The holidays can be a particularly lonely time for the elderly, but a local home care provider is working to change that by ensuring every London senior has a gift to open this Christmas.
Home Instead Senior Care has again this year set up Christmas trees at six local businesses decorated with ornaments that each feature a seniors’ wish list of gifts.
"We have 420 seniors this year that we are getting gifts for... we have partnered with other organizations in the city to find those seniors that we know are lonely, isolated, or in need," said Victoria Chalmers, co-owner of the London Home Instead Senior Care office. "Some of these seniors are isolated, meaning they don't have family close by, so they don't have anybody who is giving them a gift on Christmas. It is also intended to give gifts to seniors who don't have the means to get these items themselves."
Some of the items being requested are as simple as a nightgown, sweatpants, socks, a warm blanket, toiletries, or diabetic treats. Others include colouring books, stuffed animals, and baby dolls.
"Someone might look at that request and think 'why would they want that?' But for someone coping with Alzheimer's or dementia, those types of activities are fantastic for engagement or keeping them active," said Chalmers.
Anyone who would like to bring a little joy to a senior this Christmas can go to one of the participating businesses, sign out a paper ornament from the tree, purchase the requested gifts and bring them with the paper ornament back to that business.
Volunteers with Home Instead and partnering organizations will pick up the donated gifts on December 13. They will then be wrapped and delivered to local seniors throughout the week before Christmas.
"The excitement on their face and the excitement when they receive those gifts is priceless," said Chalmers. "They are so thankful."
This is the 9th year London Home Instead has been apart of the Be a Santa to a Senior program.
"Every year that we have done this, the generosity of the community blows us away. The gifts that people buy and the thought that they put into them, people go so above and beyond with what has been requested," said Chalmers, who noted the program also helps people to remember their elderly neighbours. "It makes them think about the senior down the street, maybe gets them to stop by and say hi, which can really brighten a senior's day."
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:
Airport Hyundai, 2040 Dundas St. E., Airport Kia, 2284 Dundas St. E., Blackfriars Salon and Spa, 182 Wharncliffe Rd. N., Hangar9, 620 Richmond St., Village Hair Co., 2410 Main St. Home Instead Senior Care, 1200 Highbury Ave. N.