Pensioners stir up a cuppa

5:29pm Monday 7th April 2008

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Communi-tea Week is stirring pensioners in Poulton-le-Fylde into action to help combat loneliness in older people.

The great British brew will be the centre of attention in next week when tea-loving residents at Bupa's Bankhouse Nursing Home raise their mugs to help mark Communi-tea Week.

Part of a nationwide campaign, Communi-tea Week which starts today until April 13, uses the theme of tea to help tackle the problems of isolation and loneliness in older people.

Bankhouse Nursing Home is taking the lead by hosting a three course tea-based lunch followed by entertainment from Classic Sound from 12.30pm on Wednesday, April 9 and inviting older people in their community to join in the fun and get together over a friendly cuppa.

Viv Ogden, home manager, said: "Communi-tea Week is a great opportunity to welcome new faces and reach out to anyone who wants to make new friends.

"Being part of the local community is really important to us and there is no better way of breaking the ice than over a nice cup of tea."

According to a new report by Age Concern, more than a million older people, including one in five people over 80, feel shut out from society and communities.