At the start of 2022, we were delighted to receive £9,850 from The National Lottery Community Fund to pilot taking our team of staff and volunteers back into care settings again.
In the muddle of masks, LFT covid testing and in between outbreaks of Covid stopping all visits, our Revisiting project has seen us getting back to face to face work with care home residents once again.
Lockdowns have meant, sadly, that many older people receiving care are more at risk of isolation, boredom and loneliness than ever. Most have had fewer visits than normal as a result of the ways in which the pandemic changed the care setting as people seek to minimise risk.
The care sector faces an unprecedented storm of workforce shortages, budget shortages and rising costs in the context of an ageing population, a working age population in increasing need of social care and more people with higher needs than ever requiring care.
In spite of the many challenges created by the different environment, and the notable risk still posed to older people, our team of staff and volunteers have really enjoyed getting back to business. We have been bringing activity, joy and learning to care homes once again during 2022 with craft sessions, quizzes, word games, music and more.
Thank you to everyone involved in the pilot, notably to Agnes House and Devonshire Court care homes, and especially to Fiona Smith for leading and coordinating this piece of work.