Spreading Joy: The Success of Home Instead Oxford’s Be a Santa to a Senior 2025
Home Instead Oxford’s Be a Santa to a Senior 2025 campaign brought festive cheer to older patients in hospital through thoughtful gifts and community support.
At Home Instead Oxford, the festive season is about more than decorations and celebrations—it’s about bringing warmth, kindness, and companionship to older adults in our community. Our Be a Santa to a Senior 2025 campaign was a wonderful example of this, and we are incredibly proud of the joy it brought to older people spending Christmas in hospital.
Thoughtful Gifts, Packed with Care
As part of this year’s campaign, our team hand-packaged festive gift bags which were delivered to older patients at Witney Community Hospital and to The Oxford Hospitals Charity for the John Radcliffe Hospital. Each gift bag was carefully put together to offer both comfort and cheer, and included:
A soft, warm blanket
An activity book and pen
Chocolates
A handmade Christmas card, filled with thoughtful messages
The Christmas cards were especially meaningful, having been kindly created by local Cutteslowe Primary School children, adding a heartfelt personal touch that was deeply appreciated by the patients. The blankets and chocolates were generously donated by local businesses and our own Home Instead Oxford staff, highlighting just how much our wider community wanted to be involved.
Bringing Christmas Spirit to Hospital Wards
For many older people, spending Christmas in hospital can be incredibly difficult. Our campaign aimed to bring festive spirit, comfort, and a sense of being remembered to those who were unable to be at home during the holiday period. The smiles, conversations, and emotional reactions we witnessed showed just how impactful these simple acts of kindness can be. It was a true delight to share in the experience and to see the joy that was brought to so many patients.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, our very own Care Manager, Josh, embraced the role of a very jolly Father Christmas, much to the delight of patients and staff alike. The day was made even more special by the wonderful Witney Voice Box Choir, who kindly sang carols and Christmas songs on the wards at Witney Community Hospital, filling the space with warmth, music, and festive cheer.
Thank You to Our Community Partners
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Oxford Hospitals Charity, the John Radcliffe Hospital, and Witney Community Hospital for welcoming us into their offices and wards and allowing us to deliver this campaign. We are also incredibly grateful to the local businesses, schools, choir members, and individuals who helped make Be a Santa to a Senior 2025 such a meaningful success.
Looking Ahead
This campaign is a powerful reminder of the impact that community, compassion, and collaboration can have. At Home Instead Oxford, we remain committed to supporting older adults not just through care, but through initiatives that bring connection and joy—especially at times when it matters most.
If you’d like to get involved in future community campaigns or learn more about how we support older people across Oxfordshire, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to make a difference—one kind gesture at a time.
