Friends of Avery Place

“I want to take the opportunity to thank them for their contributions and their relationship, because their relationship with the home is quite longstanding,” Gemma said.

Gemma became the manager of Alder House in September 2021 and said at first she did not realize all the ways that the Friends could support the home, but she said “we’re more than happy to collaborate with anybody that can support the residents in the home.” Since she first met with them, Gemma said the Friends have been extremely helpful in supporting and befriending residents, especially those who’ve been wary of interacting with different people since the COVID-19 lockdown.

Something that was uniquely helpful from the Friends was that they handled completing police checks and vetting of volunteers so that the staff at the care home did not have to. Gemma said this was a big help and allowed the home to get volunteers in more quickly.

After meeting with the Friends of Avery Place about getting volunteers back into the care home, Gemma said she spoke with residents about what kind of support they would find helpful. She found that some of the residents still did not want to participate in group activities, but they did want someone to talk to. She said the volunteers have largely interacted with the residents one on one where there is “no pressure to mingle with everybody,” and volunteers can “just focus on particular residents.”

Gemma said the residents chose if they wanted to be visited regularly by a volunteer, and her hope was to particularly reach people who did not get visitors often. Because it was the residents’ choice, Gemma said they were able to build unique relationships with the volunteers.

Because many of the residents who have befriended volunteers typically do not come out of their rooms, the care home staff are not able to constantly spend time with them, so it is reassuring to know that volunteers are able to provide them with extra comfort and entertainment.

Gemma said having volunteers is a big help because it is an extra set of people whose only responsibility is to be with the residents. While staff meet and speak with residents, often they have other responsibilities like personal care that mean they cannot simply sit and chat with residents for an extended time. Gemma said that having volunteers is very meaningful and “one-to-one interaction is the most important thing.”

For herself, Gemma said she always wishes she was able to spend more time interacting and engaging with residents and because she is not always able to with her other responsibilities, she is pleased to know that the Friends are there to lend comfort and entertainment.

The Friends of Acer Court purchased a unique set of supplies for the treat trolley. While trolley supplies typically includes toiletries and treats that residents can purchase for themselves, another need for many residents is the ability to buy gifts for grandchildren and other family members. There is something extra special about being able to pick out a gift the recipient will love, and the Friends of Acer Court brought the shops to residents by purchasing a selection of items that would make great gifts for family, especially children. These included Peppa Pig toys, colouring pages, pens and pencils, throw blankets, craft supplies, sticker activity books and home decorations. These gifts were much appreciated by everyone.

Friends of Avery Place were able to purchase supplies for the trolley and shop at Alder House. Friends bought shower gels, shampoo, deodorants and also snacks such as sweets, chocolates, pringles and cans of pop. This was much appreciated by everyone.

On the 23rd and 24th of August the Friends Chairman visited Nottingham after nearly two and a half years. He was able to deliver the volunteer induction and met with the Manager at Alder House Care Home. He also delivered a refresher for the volunteers who are keen to go back to the home.

Friends of Avery Place were able to purchase toiletries such as shampoos, shower gels and deodorants for the residents of Avery Place. Friends also purchased sweet and savoury treats for the trolley.

Friends of Avery Place are very grateful to receive funding of £1000 from Arnold Clark Community Fund. The money will be used for bringing the community together and delivering and organising some nice summer activities in the garden.

It really chimes well for the Friends that they can either provide a treat for the residents, or give them the opportunity to choose a gift for  family or a friend, when they might otherwise not be able to get out. It’s a special time of year.

We were delighted to be buy some gifts and food items, as well as having lots donated. Above is a picture of everything on the Chairman’s dining table.

Our next job, to make it easier for staff is to price everything, with the very clear understanding that if a resident doesn’t have the funds to buy something they want, they are allowed to have it. No one should miss out.

Then everything is securely packed up ready for a courier to collect them, and deliver them to the home. And all in plenty of time for staff and residents to make the most of them.

Merry Christmas everyone, from the Friends.

The Friends of Avery place are delighted to announce that £275 was raised from Moto Charity. The money will go towards tablets which will provide entertainment for residents.

Tina is originally from London, but being a Major in the Salvation Army, she travelled all around the country. She has been at the care home for the past four years, and although she’s a long way from home now, in Nottingham, she truly enjoys staying at Acer Court. Tina gets on well with the other residents and is grateful for the help of staff and volunteers. “I like everything about it,” she says. Getting through the pandemic has been hard work for both residents and staff, but Yan, the Activities Coordinator, has helped keep everyone busy and entertained in such a difficult time. Activities range from arts & crafts to coffee & reading and also include different games. Tina enjoys all but one in particular. “I don’t like the sing along,” she says. “Because I can’t sing,” she then remarks, laughing. Tina has a great relationship with Yan; they have done a lot together, including training for memory walks. Tina has done it twice and even raised £300 on a memory walk for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Besides activities, Tina has also been able to count on the support of volunteers, although most of them had to stop going inside the care home during the pandemic. Volunteers assist the work of the staff and keep company to residents who may not receive that many visitors throughout the year. Friends are glad to support Acer Court by finding volunteers to go into the care home and serving as a meeting point between the parts. Cathy is one of those volunteers; she is an active part of a local church, always wanted to help others, and regularly visits Tina. “She comes and sits in my room, and we chat,” Tina explains. Cathy even took her to the Salvation Army a while ago, and it was a wonderful experience that allowed Tina to meet many of her old friends. Before coronavirus restrictions, young students usually looking to go into medicine or nursing would also volunteer at Acer Court. They would spend time chatting with residents and help the staff by running services like the Trolley one. “They were very helpful in doing things in the home. We miss them,” Tina says. The Friends launched the Trolley Service at Acer Court a few years ago, and Tina finds it truly helpful, as it allows residents to purchase essential goods, sweets and gifts. The “shop on wheels” was also an opportunity for residents to converse with the volunteers. Although that’s not possible at the moment, Friends have been happy to continue contributing with supplies for the staff to keep the service up and running.

Friends have effectively supported Acer Court, thanks also to Tina’s valuable advice and insight. At meetings, Tina and the Friends of Avery Place discuss ideas, different aspects of life at the care home, and ways to raise money to support the whole process. It is something that Tina finds exciting and helpful; Friends genuinely appreciate her help and are glad for the beautiful relationship they have been building up with her over the years. With coronavirus restrictions lifting, Tina now looks forward to properly going out and receiving extended visits, with the hope that volunteers will soon be able to go back to Acer Court.

David Wood was delighted to meet some volunteers in Nottingham and complete their induction.

Alongside this he met Tanya, the Wellbeing and Activities head at Alder House face to face, for the first time in eighteen months.

David said, “It was great to have a chat: it really is so different from a zoom meeting. We were also able to get some plans in place for the future.”

The Friends have been asked to regularly restock the gifts: it is important to the residents of Acer Court, as it is one of the few ways that many are able to buy small tokens of affection for their friends and family.           

One resident said, “It is my daughter’s birthday, you know. It will be the second year I have not been able to get out, and get her something. It is lovely to be able to choose something and the staff helps me wrap it. There are even cards to choose from.”

To stop the spread of coronavirus during the pandemic, residents have been in their rooms and the shop has not been open. Sadly, a lot of the perishable stock passed its sell by date.

The home asked the Friends if they might replenish the shelves ready for opening to the residents. The Friends  agreed, and all is ready for the shopping to begin.

The Friends of Avery Place were delighted to be able to provide garden centre vouchers for the sum of £500. This is very exciting for the residents who look forward to enjoying the garden during the coming summer months

The Friends of Avery Place are grateful for receiving 2 Amazon fire sticks purchased from raised funds. These will enable residents  to access more online stuff through  the large TV screen.

The money will be used on  tablets to ease the isolation so residents can keep in touch with their friends,  relatives and volunteers via Skype or Zoom. Part of  the grant will also go towards portable  radios,  active mind resources such as jigsaws and puzzles, books and playing cards.  Toiletries such as  shampoos, shower gels and razor blades will be purchased  too, to have a good stock as there has been a shortage lately. All of this  is a great help for residents and it is making them  feel cared about.

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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He lives with his supportive parents, sister and 3 brothers (one of which is his twin); they are all by his side, encouraging of his career goals.

When he spoke about how he found the Friends at Avery, he addressed, “My dad drives by the care home multiple times. I noticed that there was a poster by the care home, and took that as an opportunity to get in touch with the Friends to involve myself within my community”.

Moreover, what sparked Ahsan’s determination to begin volunteering was when he shadowed a GP. “He took me to a care home, and I saw how alone the residents were and that broke my heart”. He added, “From there, I knew I wanted to be someone to make the residents smile, even if it was just a small one”.

When Ahsan is not volunteering, he keeps active through playing squash, badminton or cricket. He explained, “As well as sports, I would consider volunteering as a hobby of mine as well”. Ahsan was involved in helping out at a charity shop, where he helped to assist and serve consumers. “It was a very valuable experience for me”, he mentioned. However, he confessed that volunteering at a care home had far more patient contact, which he enjoys the most and is one of the reasons why he wants to get into medicine. “The satisfaction of having a close connection with anyone I am caring for is simply just the best feeling”.

Despite his schedule being busy, he clears his time out on Sundays to volunteer with the Friends of Avery Place Care Home.  So far, Ahsan has been enjoying his time – talking and helping to improve the resident’s lives. He mentioned how he is getting something valuable out of this experience, while doing something he loves – making people happy. “I now understand that talking to somebody even for a short period of time can brighten up their day and make them feel better”. He highlighted that he feels connected with the resident and claimed that he wants to make the most out of the time he is volunteering with the Friends.

Feeling assured, he claimed that volunteering at the care home has confirmed his passion to pursue medicine. This volunteering experience has enhanced him as a person and has made him feel happier, especially as he looks forward to the next time he sees the residents.

To wrap up his experience, Ahsan recommended volunteering and assertively said, “People who enjoy talking to people or want to push themselves should definitely go for it!”

The project was born following a series of consultations with family members and carers of the care home residents which indicated a strong need for a service that focused entirely on the residents’ comfort in their last hours of life.

We will train Friends of Avery Place volunteers to provide companionship and emotional support as well as deliver simple relaxation techniques or a soothing touch to help residents find comfort and peace.

Thanks to the service, we will ensure that no resident dies alone. We believe that, regardless of whichever state they are at, people deserve holistic care that is tailored to the individual’s needs. Those who approach the end of life have the right to a farewell in dignity and compassion, and with regard to their last wishes. Cultural and religious ceremonies might be some of the residents’ wishes to help find spiritual meaning and closure which are also recognised and fulfilled.

Local residents 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 older residents at the very end of their lives. This project will strengthen the local 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.

Ahmad is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, and believed volunteering at Avery Place could have helped him in that journey. ‘’Being caring and compassionate is just as important the scientific side of medicine- I don’t think care staff at the home are given enough credit for being so motivated and resilient.’’

Avery Place Care Home surprised Ahmad, in that he didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as he has. He spends most of his time chatting to residents, and describes being ‘’taken aback by some of their fascinating stories! Some of the residents are incredibly interesting.’’ Ahmad also helps with the Tea Trolley service and the Daily Sparkle programme, where residents read newspaper articles from their pasts, allowing them to reflect, which encourages good discussions.

Ahmad is grateful for his time at Avery Place Care Home enhancing and refining a number of his skills- he feels his communication skills have greatly developed, as well as him ability to be more compassionate and empathetic, which he believes will be useful to his chosen profession.

Overall, Ahmad has found his experience at Avery Place ‘’incredibly rewarding and reinvigorating. I would encourage everyone to volunteer because the skills and relationships you develop are second to none!’’

In her spare time, Catherine enjoys playing the piano, walking and going out in the countryside, but also loves to help others whenever she has the chance. After taking early retirement from her job in the pharmaceutical industry she realised that she wanted “to serve and to do things for other people”, she stated.

In the last six years of her retirement, Catherine has been mainly working with children in the education sector. Due to the immense rewarding feeling she received from this, she was inspired to give her time to those who are on the other end of the age spectrum.

Catherine thoroughly enjoys her time spent at the care home. Although working in a care home may have some challenges at times, she knows exactly how to overcome them, “there is one lady who lives with severe dementia and she does not always remember me, but by talking to her I can get her engaged”, she said. “Eventually you find something that means something to them, I found that she enjoyed music and she used to play the piano so we ended up singing a song and she remembered the words of the songs even better than I did”. Catherine’s greatest motivation to volunteer is the rewarding feeling she gets as a result of every visit she makes to the care home, “you get that sort of rewarding moment a lot at the care home”.

The Avery Place family value the help that the volunteers give, and in attempts to make everyone feel more connected to the care home, they set up meetings with all the staff and volunteers. The aim of one meeting was to encourage more befriending throughout the home, starting off by making a list of the residents who do not have regular visitors to make sure that they are not on their own for too long. It is important for the care home that Catherine and the rest of the volunteering team are involved in all the plans that are set out for the residents, making everyone feel like a vital part of the team.

Through her time spent at Avery Place, she has improved her communication skills by listening actively to the residents and knowing when and how to start a conversation with them. Catherine believes that her patience, openness and her willingness to listen has allowed her to be a good and efficient volunteer at the care home, and would also help anyone else to be the best volunteer that they can be. “Maybe any skills on the musical side which you could share”, by sharing these skills, the residents can feel that they are learning something new.

What has touched Catherine the most through this experience is, “the feeling that you are able to give something of yourself or share part of yourself for the benefit of others”. Through this successful experience, she would recommend volunteering work to anyone, “it is worth it because it gives you such a good feeling that you have actually done something to help someone”.

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.

Joshua’s journey at Avery Place began as a volunteer. His family has always been involved with mental health and charity sectors which has slowly been sparking Joshua’s interest in volunteering. Initially, Joshua thought he might not be suitable for the role – the stigma of a “depressing care home” had put him off from taking an initiative for a while. “In the beginning I wasn’t convinced much but eventually helping people has become something I really wanted to do”, he explained.

Avery Place Care Home is one of the places where Friends of Care Homes have formed a group of volunteers supporting residents as well as carers. Joshua was glad to learn that Avery Place happened to be near his family home, “it really isn’t far away, and my parents have known about the care home and have been encouraging me to give it a try”, Joshua said. Joshua was welcomed to a delightful care home with a team of helpful staff, “one of the members helped me with the job application when I decided to shift from volunteering to working full-time”, he explained. Joshua has found the volunteer – staff transition quite smooth thanks to the training provided, “I got a closer look at the equipment and completed and on-line course which was tremendously informative”, he explained.

During his volunteering experience, Joshua took part in organised activities such as Tai Chi, music sessions and meetings with mums and toddlers. However, his involvement has become more carer-focused over time.  The more time Joshua has spent working with the residents, the more attached to them he has become, “there is one resident I particularly get along with”, he reflected. “He’s very open about his past and shares his memories with me whenever he remembers them”, Joshua explained. It is the little moments he shares with the residents that make a change every day, “I love learning about the residents’ little quirks and interests and make them the subject of the conversation”, he said.

Being a carer has also opened a window of possibilities to provide more gratifying, focused care “there was a lot I could do as a volunteer, but being a member of staff means I can physically care for the residents which I could not do before”, he reflected. “I couldn’t help a resident into a chair because I was not a qualified carer a while ago, which was an utterly heart-breaking situation to be in”, Joshua confessed.

“There wasn’t anything I did not feel prepared for when first coming to the care home”, Joshua explained. His family members have volunteered in care homes in the past, therefore he was aware of potential challenges that working with the residents might entail. “Residents with dementia tend to forget you all the time but it doesn’t matter as long as you can have a chat with them and keep them company”, he explained.

Volunteering and being a full-time carer have made a huge impact on Joshua’s personality. The sense of accomplishment stemming from a rewarding experience has boosted his confidence and helped him develop a more open approach to people “I used to be a quite closed person but this experience makes me feel like I got this”, he explained. “I think this is definitely something one should try, whether it be volunteering or being a carer. I would recommend making that decision to anyone.”

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.

Aleena keeps herself busy at all times: boxing, kickboxing, volunteering at a mental health institute, extra-curricular courses, or simply reading – you name it. Despite having numerous interests and studying for her exams, Aleena spends a few hours every Saturday volunteering at the Averyplace Care Home.

Aleena decided to begin her volunteering experience after her Grandma’s cancer diagnosis as well as her next-door-neighbour’s dementia. The care home was “just around the corner”, so Aleena didn’t think twice. “I like caring for people and I think it’s really rewarding”. Aleena lists the hardships of volunteering: “The suffering is hard to observe. Also working with residents with dementia might be challenging; one resident asked me about 10 times who I was and what I was doing there, all within 20 minutes.”

Although Aleena found it difficult to develop relationships with residents with dementia, she has worked with residents with whom she “managed to form relationships she would never have if she hadn’t decided to volunteer”.  Aleena’s visits in the care home became less frequent due to her exams which has made some of the residents quite upset.

Aleena reflects on everything she’s learned at the Care Home: “I didn’t even know I had so much patience. Since I started volunteering, I’ve become more understanding and my communication skills have improved, too.”

Aleena has found passion in helping people; “I think what makes me a good volunteer is my hard work and dedication. I always try to do my best and I’m genuinely caring by nature.”

The volunteer emphasises the importance of commitment and patience in charity work; “I believe those are the key attributes in volunteering” – she adds. She has observed how motivation and willingness to put time and effort into interacting with residents benefit their well-being. “Seeing them smile is the most gratifying feeling.”

If it wasn’t for her work at Averyplace Care Home, Aleena would have not heard the captivating stories from the residents. “They used to live so differently at their age. I love listening to stories about the war, the toys they used to play when they were little.” Aleena organised group conversations, one-to-one sessions or simple daily activities. “Daily sparkle is my favourite. That’s when the residents get to listen to the music from when they were young and just talk about the past. It’s really heart-warming.”

“Even making them a cup of tea makes them happy and it is highly gratifying that I am able to make them happier and make a change.” She has learnt that small things can make a big difference to residents.

Volunteering has encouraged Aleena to pursue her career in a patient-centred environment, fuelling her motivation to do her best in her final exams and reach her goals.

The service offers residents of Avery Place Care Home a range of goods to purchase including books, music records, cards, toiletries, gifts, and sweets. The residents can make independent choices and treat themselves or their loved ones by choosing items from the “shop on wheels”.

Not only does Trolley Service respond to residents’ need of purchasing basic goods, but it also provides an opportunity to chat with volunteers on duty. Visiting the residents’ room on a regular basis allows volunteers to engage with residents and brighten their day with a chat. Conversation – a seemingly simple act – can make a great impact on an elderly person’s sense of well-being. The Trolley Service also captures some of the elements of life happening outside of the care home which residents long for the most. Incidental chit-chats resulting from the service stand a chance to become a beginning of friendships and meaningful relationships between residents and volunteers, allowing volunteers to play an active role in making residents’ lives more enjoyable.

The Friends discussed how to recruit more volunteers locally and projects that we could begin fundraising for.

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 4^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.