Remembering those who live in care homes 

Care Homes are one type of communal establishments measured by the Office for National Statistics in the 2021 Census. In 2022, there were 408,371 people living in care homes across the United Kingdom
 
Some residents enjoy regular visits from family or friends, while others lead a very lonely life. Some will ‘pass on’ relatively quickly, while others may live in the same room for several years
 
Some residents are collected for church, and some join church services in their Home, while others have to resort to radio or television for spiritual encouragement. Only a relative few will have the technical competence and equipment to livestream
 
What does this mean for church leaders? It is likely they will have some church members or ex-members living in Care Homes. While for some, livestreaming of services will be a huge blessing, they do not replace regular visiting, if possible
 
Giving elderly people the opportunity to go outside (in their wheelchairs) will normally be enthusiastically welcomed, and, for some, especially the opportunity to attend Sunday service in their wheelchair. Pastoral work, gifts of flowers from the church, and personal prayer are hugely important, in the context of end-of-life spiritual care
 
A visiting team from the Church to take a regular Sunday service is not only an encouragement to believers, but can also be a gentle encouragement to those without faith, particularly if accompanied by a regular opportunity for Communion (for believers) and hymn singing (favourites) for those with Sunday School and Church
memories  
                                          
Please note: Home Communion is taken each month into the Marine Court Residential Home by The Minster. We were greeted with great pleasure when seven of us visited the Marine Court early in December and sang well known carols and Christmas songs to the Residents, some of whom happily joined in the singing. Remembering the words of some of the carols from their school or Sunday School days

 
Courtesy of Parish Life
 
 

Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in Great Yarmouth or surrounding villages?  

If so, email judith.edmonds@ntlworld.com with details and, if possible a suitable picture