Eager volunteers and
staff at Age Concern Dundee combat isolation and loneliness – that has now
reached an epidemic level in the UK’s elderly population.
On a daily basis their
efforts support people to interact in the local community and make the most of
later life.
“There are more and more people who are likely to be restricted to their own homes - we provide the social leverage they wouldn’t necessarily have in their community, said Manager Patrick Delargy.
“They can come along
to the centres as often as they like. It’s about providing strong socialisation
to give quality of life that maybe isn’t there for them in their current circumstances.”
Age Concern Dundee
is a small charitable organisation with approximately 10 paid staff and 8
regular volunteers who organise gatherings and activities for some of those
most at risk of exclusion and detachment from society.
 |
| Friends who met at the Fiveways Centre. |
“Humans are not
isolates, we are pack animals” writes Philippa Perry in her Guardian article ‘lonelinessis dangerous: ignore it at your peril’. She describes some of the mental and
physical health consequences caused by loneliness.
This is why the volunteers’ contributions
- which take effect at the Fiveways Centre on Caird Avenue and the St Aiden’s
Centre in Broughty Ferry – are so crucial to elderly users in Dundee.
Friendly staff and
volunteers speak about the Fiveways Centre, and some of the older people
discuss how it benefits them.
Volunteer, Joan Ewen,
a retired Doctor’s Receptionist from Maryfield, said: “I first got involved
when I used to take my neighbour here. I help with the lunches, and chat with
people.
“For some it is the
only company they will have that day. They are just looking for someone to
speak to who might be interested in what they have to say and they are so grateful
when you are.
“There is music and
dancing which supports the feel good factor in people – a few enjoy a dance but
many just sit back and enjoy the music, along with some tea and cakes.
 |
| Volunteer Joan Ewen sitting outside in the Fiveways Centre Gardens. |
Joan gets fulfilment
and enjoyment from her volunteering and her good will helps inspire elderly
people in Dundee to change their life for the better. Joan also enjoys helping
with bingo nights and raffles for fundraising events which go towards supporting
older people as they live longer to feel happier and healthier.
Referrals to Age
Concern Dundee can be via the social department, health boards, carers and
family members, and by clients themselves.
 |
| Joan Hogan |
She said: “Everyone
here is friendly and it is a good atmosphere. I would be lost without the
service. I have met lots of friends and it has changed my life completely.”
The service gives
back to elderly people who have contributed to society their whole life. The
service understands the contributions seniors make and aims to support an
age-inclusive community.
Around
Dundee, everywhere an older generation of people can be seen using or offering
services. In families they offer support and even babysitting for
grandchildren. Many work as unpaid carers for loved ones. They can often be seen working, or volunteering. At the Fiveways Centre they share their skills and
impart wisdom from living life. Their contribution and
value seems endless.
Patrick describes
some other activities at the centre: “A beautician often comes and there is the
Red Cross lady who comes and offers massage - both sexes enjoy their visits.
“Our chair based
exercise class is popular. There’s lots of laughing and hee-haw. Even those not
involved turn to watch the fun.
“We pay for
transport hire and our volunteer escorts help to collect people at their homes.
On a Monday and days that we can’t afford to offer transport it is much
quieter. People will play dominoes, or complete crosswords together, watch a
film or reminisce and chat.
“There’s an
incredible social history here. It’s a great privilege to have that and to
learn from the last of a generation. Some are almost 100 years old so to see
what has changed in their lifetime is incredible.
“One man’s job was a
cinematographer before the digital age. He used to have to put reel to reel of
film together. If there was a problem the audience would stamp their feet
because they would have to wait for him to fix it.”
 |
| June Rodger |
June Rodger, who
used to work as a Weaver in the Jute Mills, attends on the bus service
provided. She says ‘if there was no bus service I’d just bide in the
house’.
June said that she
most enjoys the company of the girls and the music. She added: “We enjoy a
blether and have a laugh. There are lovely lunches and music and dancing.
"There
are 8 or 10 of us at a table and we all click - everyone talks to everyone and
it’s not cliquey”.
During my visit Jim
and Pam, known as Pim and Jam, are playing at the centre. They provide music
every fortnight. They like helping to create a ‘jolly atmosphere’ playing
Scottish music, and popular songs from the 40’s to 60’s.
 |
| The sound of music from Jim and Pam at Fiveways Dundee. |
Patrick said: “We
have live musical entertainment twice a week. Music generally is a hugely
important phenomenon – especially in terms of wellbeing.
“You get folk who
struggle with language and remembering things, and the musicians will play a
song and they’ll instantly sing the whole song. It’s a very popular medium.”
Patrick describes
that for new volunteers it can be a challenge to develop skills to communicate
with some of the elderly people.
“For example, how do you respond to someone saying the same few words to you over and over again?
How you respond is to be warm and show you are interested in the person
even if you don’t understand a single thing they say. Engage and show them that
they are there and that they are important. That’s very hard- not everyone can
do that.”
The Voluntary Chair
of Age Concern Dundee, Patricia Bree, said: “We offer a training program for
all staff called ‘Best Practice in Dementia Care’ to match the needs of some of
our clients.” Patricia teaches the course to new volunteers and staff so they
can supply modern practice for dementia care at the service.
Age Concern Dundee
is one of almost 1000 charitable organisations who are members of Age
Scotland. Age Concern Dundee raise their
own funding and Age Scotland can help to provide money for a new service.
 |
| The Fiveways Centre in Dundee. |
Patricia said: “Age
Scotland are extremely helpful to us in making us meet our aims and goals we
are trying to achieve.”
She described how grants
have allowed a new greenhouse in Fiveway’s garden to be built, they funded a
cook on site, and are helping to update IT and communications systems.
Patrick added: “Our
positive working relationship with them has helped us to make many improvements
to our services. They also help to link us with politicians and national groups
so that they can learn about Age Concern’s services.”
The Community
Development Officer (East) for Age Scotland, Douglas Macnaughtan said: “Our
mandate is the voice of older people, and my job is to try and make as much
happen locally so that people know we are here and so we can grow.”
As well as
supporting voluntary groups like Age Concern Dundee, Age Scotland provides important
publications and online factsheets that clients and carers at the services can
access for help and advice.
They also run the free
Silver Line Scotland phone service on 08004708090 for older people, their
families and carers. Douglas explains that this is handy port of call for
information about transport, heating, finance, housing, mental health issues
and accessing community services.
Their vision is ‘a
world where everyone can love later life’. Their work with organisations such
as Age Concern Dundee has contributed to this becoming achievable.
Patrick said: “What
you will be impressed with when you come here is the stoicism and good humour
of the people who are dealing with the ageing process – the illnesses and other
things that go with that.
“In general you end up admiring them and hope that when you get to that age that you have the same stoicism and fortitude to deal with it all.
“It’s part of our
natural condition to adjust to each stage of life as soon as we have the
cognitive understanding about that from childhood onwards.
“Old people often
have the ability to adapt, rationalise things, and change, more than we
realise.
“They can often cope
with quite difficult things, and amazing adversity at times, and show a certain
wisdom about things as well.
“Many people here
have come from a different time, and in a city like Dundee they weren’t
particularly wealthy folk - everybody had to work. So they have had a life of
adjusting, and changing, and making do, and getting on with things.”
Listed is just some of the information they provide:
- Money advice (entitlement, benefits, bills, saving, pensions, debt, consumer advice, insurance)
- Finding care and support (housing, care at home, care homes, sheltered housing)
- Healthy living (healthy eating, exercise, well-being, relationships, family, bereavement, equipment for living, hearing)
- Illness (dementia, stroke, depression, diabetes, heart disease, cataracts, cancer)
- Other (holidays, work, volunteering, heating, fire safety, alcohol, wills, funerals, elder abuse, computing classes, mobility/hearing aids, products, services, alarms).
No comments:
Post a Comment