Friends of Acacia Mews

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