Friends of Acacia Mews

We have abruptly been confined to our homes, having to keep a staunch two metre distance from those around us and unable to see the people we love. Nowhere is this social isolation felt more than in our many care homes, where those who need our time and company the most have acutely suffered due to the restrictions on visitors.

In the midst of all this, the drive to keep connected is more vital than ever.  Acacia Mews Care Home in Hatfield has been closed to visitors for some time.  Residents have understandably been missing the fun and care that volunteers and visitors bring to their lives and the positive impact on their mental wellbeing that comes with this. Likewise, volunteers have been desperate to continue to do something to support the residents and to continue giving back in a time of great need.

To combat the lack of face-to-face contact during this time, the friends of Care Homes with Acacia Mews have proposed the ‘Keeping Connected’ project. Local communities and volunteers are keeping in touch with the residents through carefully crafted letters and cards, which are sent to the care home on a regular basis. The letters and cards are full of positivity, and scattered across the tables are a reminder of the resilience and community spirit that keeps us all connected during this time. Without a daily visit to look forward to, the cards and letters serve as an uplifting sign that no one has been forgotten about and that each resident is individually appreciated.

The Care Home has already been posted some very well received cards and paintings of Hatfield and the surrounding area provided by local schools and considerate members of the community. These seemingly small gestures make a huge difference to those on the receiving end. Gifts like these remind those in care homes that the local community are very much still around, and serve to inspire and bring hope in a time of such darkness. The feeling of being included, thought about and cared about can have a hugely positive impact on mental wellbeing and show that although we are unable to see the people we care about, we are still able to connect with them in a different way. Creative projects such as this that improve the quality of life in care homes is at the heart of what The Friends of Acacia Mews do and show that, even in a time of global crisis, the care and time that volunteers give is still around in abundance.

To ease the isolation for residents local communities and volunteers will keep in touch with residents through letters and cards which will be sentto them on regular basis.

Dear Care Home Friend,

In less than a month it feels like everything has changed. As I was looking at my diary for March, we had committee meetings planned for most homes, and lots of volunteers on the brink of starting. I did get to a Dementia Cafe in very early March but within days we were having to look at everything differently.

In all homes, we have no volunteers going in. Understandably, most care homes won’t even allow families to visit residents except in very extenuating circumstances.

We regularly hear from volunteers who want to help, to continue to do something to support the residents and staff of the home that they are supporting. If any of you have any thoughts about something volunteers might practically do, please let us know.

So what are we doing? The King’s Fund, where our offices are located, shut down  at very  short notice. The last few hours looked a bit like we are passengers on the Titanic grabbing the essentials for an unknown period in the lifeboats. At this point, the care homes support team are all set up to work from home.

You may continue to hear from Sona who is totally reviewing and updating all our records relating to volunteers. We are contacting some as part of the process. Also we are continuing to have regular enquiries from people who want to get involved once we come out the other side of this current situation. We are processing their applications, taking up references etc.

Alongside this Said and Kim are getting the financial records up to date. Today is the last day of the care home groups financial year, so there is plenty to do to prepare the draft accounts.

Alongside this we are continuing to look for funders who might support the projects you have told us you would like to do.

So, while perhaps less physically present, we are continuing to work hard to ensure these projects are in the best position they can be, once we return to practical day to day volunteering in the homes.

Once again, if you have any ideas on what else we might do now, do get in touch. In the meantime, do stay safe and well.

With very best wishes

Nichole Wheaton

Head of Projects Delivery
Tel: 020 7307 2570
Email: nichole.wheaton@attend.org.uk
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As an employee of Eisai, a pharmaceutical company which has a mission to make the healthcare industry more accessible to all, Mina was invited to Acacia Mews to gain more insight on some of the ways the company could help vulnerable people. Mina’s first visit to the care home during the Christmas period was enough to convince her to become a regular volunteer. Seeing residents light up at the sight of the Christmas decorations was incredibly rewarding for Mina, and encouraged her to take part in a range of activities at Acacia Mews, such as accompanying residents on visits to local events, or simply sitting and chatting with them in the care home- anything to make even part of their day more worthwhile is something she finds satisfying.

Mina describes the personal bonds she’s made with several of the residents, and details how she likes being able to help and giving back to people who need it more than her- ‘’interacting with senior residents is an experience dear to my heart, because they remind me of my own grandparents.’’

The time Mina spent at Acacia Mews was an invaluable experience. Volunteering with the residents has allowed her to develop personal skills; Mina values communication, but her time at Acacia Mews has shown her not everyone is capable of this. While she previously might have gotten frustrated with people who could not express themselves clearly, her experiences with residents have given her the chance to see things from a different perspective- ‘’being patient, mindful and selfless are things I’ve learnt at Acacia- being there meant I had to focus on them and their needs rather than myself, which is something I’ve definitely come to appreciate.’’

Mina is grateful to Acacia Mews care home for freeing her from the expectations she came in with-‘’if I had known how rewarding volunteering was, I would have begun earlier!’’

Following a visit to her college by a representative of Acacia Mews, Esra did not hesitate to apply. Esra believed the experience with the elderly would be valuable; working with residents at Acacia Mews has certainly been a knowledgeable experience.

She recognises the importance of befriending residents; something as simple as sitting, chatting and bonding with them makes a huge difference to their day. Although Esra was surprised her presence could make a difference, she finds it works both ways- as much as the residents appreciate her company, Esra loves being able to be there for them as well. She admits she ‘’didn’t know communicating with the elderly was that easy, I was expecting it to be hard- but once you bond with residents, you realise they just need someone to talk to and comfort them as much as you do.’’

Building a connection with residents is essential, Esra describes- ‘’it is important to build trust as a service provider with a service user. If there’s no trust, there’s no communication.’’ She credits her time at Acacia Mews as helpful in developing on her communication skills, as she’s found she’s learned to become more confident in herself.

Overall, Esra is finding her time at Acacia Mews Care Home as the perfect place to express her commitment to helping others, and looks forward to continue volunteering.

On the first day the group met with 15 Acacia Mews residents. They all had the chance to be introduced to one another while serving the residents ice cream as they were enjoying the sunny day in the garden.

On Tuesday, the NCS group came back to the care home to spend more time with the residents. As for activities, they played board games with the residents and also spent more time in the garden.

Wednesday was the project preparation day. NCS went back to the youth club to create personalised cards for each of the residents they had met with previously.

Thursday was a hands on garden project the NCS group spent their time tidying the garden, painting all the garden borders and shed to make it attractive for the tea party they have planned for the following day.

Friday was the day of the tea party. The NCS group served tea and cakes to the residents whilst they were in the garden again and chatted with them.

After the tea party was over, the group went into the lounges and residents’ rooms to hand them their personalised cards. The outcome was delightful, “it has made my day” one resident expressed, another residents response was, “come here, let me give you a hug.” Their idea was a great finish to the eventful week.

With this project, we will purchase a specialist sensory case for the elderly as a tool to exercise sensory perception. The case will include a variety of equipment for residents with dementia and those who might need some sensory stimulation.

The sensory case contains tools which will give the residents the opportunity to exercise visual, olfactory and auditory perception. Musical gloves will give the residents the opportunity to play music with ease and the fruits card game will allow them to recognise and match fragrances with fruits.

Additionally, cushions and armchair covers of various textures will constitute a tool to explore tactile perception.

The kit will be a chance to build a bridge between trained volunteers and the residents, form new meaningful relationships developed through leisure whilst simultaneously improving their physical health. Our volunteers will contribute to improving the lives of residents by exercising day-to-day tasks which involve sensory stimulation. Thanks to this project, residents will gain confidence in recognising textures, sounds and scents and, consequently, improve their concentration and memory.

The Multisensory Equipment project is one more step forward in making residents’ lives more enjoyable and meaningful.

Katrina used to be a personal care worker; she had to retire because progressive arthritis in her wrist made in difficult to work. Previous to caring, Katrina used to work in retail as a store manager, “I felt like I wanted to do a bit more than just standing in the shop”. Katrina changed her retail working schedule to a part-time basis in order to begin her career as a care worker, “the role in which you get to help people is much more rewarding”, she said. Following her retirement 4 years ago, she decided to dedicate her time to volunteering 2-3 times a week at Acacia Mews Care Home.

Katrina learned about Acacia Mews when her auntie stayed in a hospital followed by her residency at Acacia Mews.

Katrina was already involved with Acacia Mews Care Home when David and Nichole arrived at the home with a proposition to form Friends of Acacia which Katrina is now part of.

Katrina is a mother of 3 grown-up children who come and visit the residents from time to time, “it’s marvellous what can be achieved with residents when volunteers get involved”, she explained.

Volunteering enables Katrina and others at the care home to tackle loneliness that residents might experience, “there are so many elderly without family, being able to help the residents means the world to them and to us”.

Friends of Acacia Mews do what they can to improve the well-being of their residents. Friends have managed to get a grant to amend new plants, buy furniture and install a water feature in the garden where the residents can socialise and relax in, “it’s nice to talk to them and add a new aspect to their routine”,  Katrina explained.

Katrina started her volunteering experience prepared for the challenges that working with people with Alzheimer’s and dementia entail, “my auntie tells me about her trip to Oxford Circus and what she saw at Mark&Spencer’s  although I know she hasn’t moved from her chair”, she explained. “I had a full training as a care worker. It is really important to remember that you are entering their world and need to know how to act in it.”

In order to help someone, you need to enter their world. And, by entering someone’s world, you make then not feel lonely anymore. Katrina spends her time with the residents whether by having a conversation or doing a jigsaw together. She takes the residents for peaceful walks in the newly refurbished garden.

Some residents at their final stages of life seek closure and comfort in faith. Katrina, an active member of the local church and hymn service deliverer, has previously helped residents pass with dignity following their wishes.

As part of the recently launched End of Life Sitters project, Katrina was able to provide companionship and support to a resident in end of life care a few hours before her passing, “I stayed with her daughter and son, gave the resident a hand massage”, she explained. “There are people who don’t even have family, it’s so important to have a group to help out”.

Volunteers like Katrina are also of tremendous help to the Acacia Mews staff, “they are working so hard to look after all the people, especially through the night”, Katrina said. By taking on some of the teams’ workload and spending time with the residents, Katrina has developed strong bonds with people at Acacia Mews, “I love how they call my name as soon as I come in and make me feel welcome in their home”, she said.

“11 years ago when my husband died, many people helped me when I needed someone to be there, now it’s my turn to be there for someone” – helping others gives Katrina “a great pleasure

“Before I began volunteering, I didn’t realise how important 1-2-1 interactions were to the residents”, Katrina confessed. “There’s a huge need for volunteers

The project was created following a series of consultations with family members, residents and staff of the care home we found a strong need for a service that focused entirely on the residents’ comfort in their final hours of life.

The Friends of Acacia Mews provide training for volunteers to offer companionship and emotional support as well as deliver simple relaxation techniques or a soothing touch to help residents find comfort and peace.

Our aim is that no resident will die alone. We believe that people deserve a holistic care that is tailored to the individual’s needs. Those who approach the end of life have the right to a farewell with dignity and compassion, and with regard to their last wishes. Cultural and religious ceremonies might be some of the residents’ wishes as well, which Friends recognise and fulfil to help residents find spiritual meaning and closure.

Local volunteers will play a key role in the delivery of End of Life Sitters project. Providing this opportunity for people to make a difference to their elderly neighbours can break down islands within the local community. Local residents will be given the chance to connect and spend time with the residents at the very end of their life. The initiative will strengthen Hatfield’s community as local volunteers learn from and engage with the older generation in a humbling experience. This project is a chance to learn that care homes are not places to be afraid of or to avoid.

Among the matters discussed it was highlighted that funding bids had recently been submitted with the funding to be used to train volunteers as End of Life sitters and also to buy mobile multi sensory equipment for residents with dementia. There are also plans to hold a summer fete

6 volunteers have now been cleared to volunteer in the home and another 12 are going through the recruitment process. The Friends are currently aiming to start an End of Life sitters project and will be applying for an Awards 4 All grant to fund this

As part of his role, he is patron of each of the friends groups in care homes.

Pictured here, he is talking to Nichole, project manager, and Kahlil who is newly appointed to the team. He was delighted to hear of the progress to date.

On the 13^th July 2016 The Friends group held their first meeting at the care home to formally appoint a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members, to agree the constitution, adopt policies and procedure and discuss business related to formation of the group.  We were joined by relatives, residents, staff and volunteers.