A Barchester Healthcare care home in Cornwall will be opening its opening doors each week to help tackle loneliness in the community.

Elderly people who might usually eat alone are invited to join the residents and teams at Falmouth Court in Falmouth for an afternoon tea, on each Wednesday afternoon.

Haley Reeve-Larson, general manager at Falmouth Court, said: “Loneliness can be a big problem for elderly people, especially as the weather gets colder. Our doors are always open to new friends of the home.”

Diners will be treated to a tasty afternoon tea in the home’s café. Guests will have a chance to chat to the home’s staff and residents,  while enjoying their food and will be able to partake in the afternoons activity with those at the home after.

The ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative was launched by 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 it operates.