On Saturday it was World Card Making Day and I had the opportunity of doing some volunteering at the local care home. We live on a fairly new development and the Home is about 5 years old, and a lovely building with great facilities. Still it must at times be difficult for some of the residents there, to always feel able to join in with some of the activities if they have some health & mobility issues or impairments that make life a little more tricky.
I took in some of my older retired ink pads some stamps and punches that coordinated and watercolour pencils. We used the current leaf punch and some glue sticks as these were easier to hold and use for those with dexterity issues. A spatter of gems for some impact, everyone loved the gems. We had a lovely couple of hours together, and although lots of residents were busy with their visitors (being the weekend) I found a few lovely people that seemed to enjoy some creativity with me.
Ken had very little speech but he could hear well, he had the use of just one side of his body but made 2 lovely cards and was very proud of them both. His smile was so infectious, I could tell he was a man of great humour.
Doreen had memory issues and was accompanied by two family members that suggested she make a card for her sister that would be celebrating her birthday at the end of October. Doreen chatted away about lots of things and occasionally her male family member looked at me as if to apologise as Doreen was talking about things completely off topic and unrelated to what was going on, but none of that mattered, for each time she placed the stamp in the ink and lifted it up the look of wonder on her face was unforgettable. When she finished making her card she clutched it tightly and said that she didn’t really think she had any ideas when it came to doing anything artsy or crafty. I promised her I would be back as she was now a crafter and I needed to keep seeing her smile and stamp.
Sam was the first resident to talk to me when I arrived she was a lady that had suffered a severe stroke, she was younger than most of the other residents, her husband was with her and it transpired that he lived in another part of the country and travels to see her each weekend. She has been a resident for 4 years. She declined the stamping as she felt she needed to be with her husband and I agreed, but promised her I would be back on a week day so she would have no excuses……
I arrived home feeling really good about the time I spent and the happiness and sense of achievement that people can take from sharing something as simple as paper, ink and stamps!
This evening I’m at a training session for a charity called ‘Independent Age’. I’m training to become a companion to an elderly local resident. The Charity serves to put together elderly people who have become isolated and lonely with people that can visit with them for an hour weekly or fortnightly to bring them some company and companionship.
Bel x
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