Christmas is often associated with joy, togetherness and generosity, yet for many older persons living in care facilities, especially those without family support, the festive season can be a time of loneliness.

With this in mind, Karen Griessel, social worker at Rand Aid’s Thornhill Manor retirement village, initiated a Christmas outreach to Thembalami Care Centre, also operated by Rand Aid.

The initiative was built around a simple but meaningful concept — a Wish Tree created to support Thembalami residents.

A Christmas tree was placed in the reception area at Thornhill Manor, with each tag representing a resident from Thembalami Care Centre.

The tags included residents’ names and small, thoughtful gift ideas, allowing Thornhill Manor residents to choose a specific person to support. Griessel said this approach transformed gift-giving into a personal act of kindness rather than an anonymous donation.

Also read: Festive gatherings bring music and camaraderie to Rand Aid retirement villages

She added that the Wish Tree sparked conversations around gratitude, empathy and shared humanity, reinforcing the understanding that ageing is a journey everyone shares.

To ensure inclusivity, a portion of the funds raised throughout the year by Thornhill Manor resident and trained social worker Vicky Keenan for her occupational therapy group was used to subsidise some of the wishes.

Keenan, who regularly volunteers her time and supports outreach initiatives within the wider Rand Aid community, played a key role in ensuring that no resident was left out.

Griessel praised Keenan for her ongoing commitment to kindness and care, noting that the outreach extended beyond charity.

She said the initiative served as a reminder that dignity is not defined by circumstance and that community care reaches beyond the boundaries of a single village.

Reflecting on the festive season, Griessel expressed gratitude to Thornhill Manor residents for their generosity and to Thembalami residents for reminding all involved that being seen, remembered and valued is among the most meaningful gifts of all.

Also read: Festive celebration unites residents and staff at Thembalami and MODA