Friends of Cedar House

Jean has been a trustee of a residential care home in Beaconsfield where during her trusteeship she helped raise money for the Resident Comfort Fund. For many years Jean was also chair of governors at the local junior school in Iver Heath.

Volunteering is a cause close to her heart since her husband had been diagnosed with Dementia at only 64 years of age and he became a resident in a care home in Slough. “When this home had to close down we moved him to Cedar House where I have volunteered ever since my husband passed away”, Jean explained. In the incomprehensibly difficult time of the loss of a loved one, Cedar House staff had been extremely supportive to Jean. “The staff are fantastic, they helped me so much when my husband passed away”, she recalled, “they made it feel like they were family”.

Jean’s first-hand experience made her realise how important it is for residents to be around volunteers. “Making them happy is such a gratifying experience”, she explained. Jean engages in numerous activities with the residents at Cedar House. Whether it is starting a conversation, singing and playing old music or visiting the zoo land and having a coffee in the Garden Centre – Jean will do what it takes to put a smile on residents’ faces. “Sometimes even just a chat is all they need, and once you’ve approached them, it’s a matter of seconds for them to brighten up!” Jean also engages in the weekly painting sessions – her experience with aesthetic art came out in the open when she partook in those as well as decorated the rooms of Cedar House, “one time I arranged daffodils in bouquets and had all the residents ask if they were decorated by a professional”, she confessed. “Being a hairdresser you have that arty feeling about you, and it does play a role in daily activities with the elderly”, she explained.

“I love talking to them and I love how they’re always looking out to see me. “That is the most rewarding feeling one could experience”, Jean said.

“Since I retired I have been volunteering every day apart from weekends.” Jean is a proud owner of a dog who accompanies her and the two of her grandchildren in their weekly hiking trips. Jean is always out and about but does not think of stopping helping the elderly – she will carry on volunteering and advises everyone else to do so too, “it’s the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped somebody”.

Although her voluntary work might be sometimes overwhelming and trigger memories from the past, she “just wants to make the residents feel wanted”. “I will carry on doing what I do here”, Jean stated firmly. Jean would advise anyone to volunteer, “go ahead and do it. It is a rewarding job. You don’t have to receive money to be rewarded for what you do”.

The service offers residents of Cedar House 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.

On Friday 7^th July 2017 the group came to the Home to meet and chat to residents of the home. They then came together to sing some of their favourite songs with the residents.

The volunteers went on to support the weekly trolley service at the Home which goes around to each room offering residents the chance to purchase items they wouldn’t normally be able to buy; from sweets to toiletries, cards and gifts.

They returned on Saturday 8^th July 2017 but this time to get their hands dirty by doing some work on the garden; putting new plants down all around the grounds of the home and also planting new raise bed in the garden (bought by the Friends of Care Homes). The volunteers also got creative with the fence, painting it in a colourful pattern which really makes the garden stand out. Finally to keep the garden in good condition for the residents the paths were jet washed and the whole garden tidied by the volunteers.

The first day began with a session on getting to know the home. The group then met and spent time with the residents in some of the lounges and ended the day singing to residents in the garden.

On the second day the group returned much to the delight of the residents. The group had practiced a a performance which they did in the garden, they then played games and chatted to residents.

The following week the group returned for their social action day. They had worked hard raising money to buy plants for the home many of which were to go in raised beds purchased by the Friends of Cedar House. They had also fundraised for paint to paint one of the fences with a design they had created. A lot of time was spent jet washing the paths which vastly improved their appearance. The garden was much more attractive and we hope the residents enjoy the beautiful flowers and herbs throughout the summer.

The day was a great success and we are hoping to welcome another group in the future. 

This project will be a trolley service, with the aim to improve each of the lives of the 42 residents of the home. By setting up a trolley service it means that Friends can visit the residents in their room on a daily basis, to offer the option of buying items or just having a chat. Following from this, other activities will develop.

What happens on the trolley will vary: it may be sweets one day, toiletries, or books on another or even a theme for the holidays, for example Christmas.  It will be an opportunity for the residents to treat themselves or a loved one, even if they are unable to get out to the shops. Even if the residents don’t wish to buy anything, the trolley service will encourage friendly chats on a daily basis and help to ease the loneliness and isolation that can occur.

Volunteers will be trained and will run the trolley service, to give the residents a chance to see new faces and make some new friends.

The residents will be encouraged to request items such as socks or toiletries, and the trolley will have some small freebies to give away.

Pinda, the activities co-ordinator is delighted, saying “this means we will be able to support more of our residents to keep in with their friends and relatives on skype.

The laptop will also be used to help access the many online resources which can be interesting and helpful to people living with dementia.

The Friends have received funding for a trolley service which will be up and running soon. There are also 2 carol singing events planned and the dates for these will be confirmed in the near future.

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.

The Committee met and are looking to purchase new equipment for the trolley service and have submitted a bid for mobile multisensory equipment. We have applied to the Charity Commission to become a registered charity.

It will take a little while to get set up, but hopefully will be fully operational by Christmas.

She currently studies at Sixth Form College where she spoke about her introduction to the basics behind dementia that dealt with understanding more of the health field, too.

Currently, she volunteers at The Friends of Cedar House Care Home on a weekly basis coming in every Wednesday from 2-5pm in between College. Orla loved how she was introduced to all the staff and residents that she would be working with, giving her that sense of comfort and love.

In the beginning, she was nervous because she had never worked directly with individuals suffering from dementia. “Knowledge of how the brain and nervous system work coherently gave me the confidence to make strong connections through small conversations with the residents,” said Orla. Recently, she has been working to pass her Level “A” examination.

Orla says working at the care home has made her appreciate her own life much more and she views the world from a different point of view.  Even though she has only been volunteering here since January, caring for the elderly at Cedar House Care Home has been different in many ways from her studies in the classroom at college because it has given her a hands-on experience and one that is entirely different each time she volunteers. From the beautifully painted pictures that she works on with the residents, she remembers times of her own childhood of painting in her art classes that she treasures. Orla speaks about how her family and friends have found her to be more patient after only several weeks of volunteering.  This remark, has allowed her to see how much of a difference she is making in the residents lives every time she sits down with them for tea and coffee, paints that beautiful picture, or simply says hello.

One of her supervisors told her how much the four residents look forward to going with her to the coffee shop each Wednesday afternoon; it is all they talk about leading up to the day. “What a perfect picture it is seeing how much the four of them smile after we have sipped on some coffee and spoken about their favourite past times.”  She was moved and devoted to branching out of her comfort zone and meeting and interacting with new people.

Orla has found many benefits to volunteering and it has given her a greater respect for the community as well as a self-confidence boost when it comes to giving presentations or speaking with individuals at College. She has become very attached to many of the residents.

After attending University and before coming to Cedar House Care Home, she worked with individuals who had suffered from acquired brain injuries as a community worker at Head Way. Ruth could not express enough her great amount of love for Cedar House Care Home and how she admires the warm welcome that she receives from staff there when she walks through the doors. “Every question I have is answered with a smile and this volunteering role is so rewarding,” stated Ruth.

For several years now, Ruth has been a minister at her local church. She has done many events with her church members around the community, and enjoys leading services in care homes. Aside from coordinating volunteer activities of the church she comes into the care home with members from her church to hold Sunday services. The residents have learned from word-of-mouth from each other about these services, and it recently has gathered a number of care home residents together for an hour.

“It’s wonderful to see a group of people smile so much from our songs that we all sing together.” Some of residents do not speak and cannot sing the songs, but they have that warm spirit that can be seen all over their faces when everyone is singing and smiling around them. Everyone feels included in the service, even if they do not practice the same religion. The services are all about welcoming the residents to be a part of something that they can enjoy and look forward to each month. Sometimes the residents bring their own immediate family members to participate in the services, as well.

“I simply cannot name all of the beneficial aspects that have come out of this volunteering experience so far as there are too many.”