‘It was wonderful to see her face light up’: Erith care home gets festive visit from reindeer

A care home resident in Erith was filled with Christmas cheer when two reindeer visited her bedside. 

Elsie Hodge, 95, met the festive pair when they visited Heathfield Court care home in Colyers Road as part of the home’s Christmas celebrations. 

Team members at the care home were determined that Elsie wouldn’t be left out of the fun. 

The two reindeer were carefully led through the care home, into the lifts and to Elsie’s bedside on the first floor where she stroked and patted them.

Elsie’s daughter, Jill Bickerstaffe, said: “Mum has advanced dementia and her communication is limited, so it was wonderful to see her face light up with sheer delight when she saw the reindeer. 

“It was definitely a “wow” moment for her. The team members at the home never cease to amaze me, they organise so many events and activities for the residents every single week, and no-one ever gets forgotten.” 

Donna Jewiss, lifestyle co-ordinator at the care home who organised the event, said: “It was simply magical when Elsie saw the reindeer walk into her bedroom, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“She was smiling and laughing and couldn’t wait to stroke them. 

“Animals have such a wonderful effect on residents, they are so therapeutic and calming.

“All the residents loved meeting the reindeer and they really brought to life the Christmas spirit in our home.”

The event also saw residents, their friends, family and the wider local community invited to the home’s Christmas lights switch-on. 

Residents and guests enjoyed singing carols while eating home-made mince pies and sipping mulled wine.

Another resident, Rose Harrington, aged 88, said she loved seeing the reindeer: “I stroked them and they were so soft to touch – I wanted to kiss them. They had such trustworthy eyes. 

“It was a dream come true to see them as I’ve only ever seen them in a field, never up close.

“There were buses going past and the passengers on the upper deck were looking down with disbelief that we actually had reindeer here. It was a wonderful day and so unexpected.” 

Pictured top: Elsie Hodge, 95, with a bedside visit from the reindeer (Picture: Heathfield Court)