Bloomfield Care Home in Paulton opened its doors to a number of people from the community to help tackle loneliness.

The care home invites anyone who would usually dine alone to join them on a Wednesday for a complimentary meal, now named ‘Wednesday Winter Warmers’.

Diners are treated to a tasty lunch in the home’s dining room, and have a chance to chat to the home’s staff and residents, while enjoying their food. The guests come from the local Paulton area and, after dinner, everyone enjoys a coffee and a chat.

The home’s Head Chef produces a range of dishes to cover varied individual dietary needs and preferences, so diners are able to eat to their fill as they are served a three-course meal that consists of a delicious roast dinner with wine or sherry.

The ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative was launched by care provider 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.

Gabor Benke, General Manager at Bloomfield, who joined the diners, said: “The lunch was a great success. It was a great effort from my team. They are always keen to do more to help those who feel lonely or cut off from the rest of the community.”

One of the regular diners, Ralph, said: “What a lovely home, there is always a great welcome by every person I meet. The food is just lovely, and prepared by people dedicated to the work they do. This could well be a Christian-based home, it meets my every need and is right here in the village, it just makes it perfect. Many thanks to them.”