Care Home in Finsbury Park needs volunteers to help out at Cocktails In Care Homes Parties
We are looking for bubbly volunteers to help extend our Cocktails In Care Homes project to Lennox House care home in Finsbury Park from Thursday 13th September 2018.
Every week Magic Me volunteers host cocktail parties in different care homes – an occasion for volunteers and residents to socialise together. Due to ill health, frailty and diminished energy, care home residents can’t always pop down the pub or out to socialise with friends in the way that they probably did in their younger days. Those whose families live far away might not have many visitors or get to have interesting conversations with anyone from outside the home so Magic Me sets to change all that.
Magic Me has been running the cocktail parties in care homes across London since 2010 and this is the third in Islington.
I am so filled with joy at seeing you again
Myra, resident to one of the Cocktails in Care Homes party managers
Volunteers join the parties which happen once a month on a Wednesday between 6pm and 730pm, they sip on cocktails (or mocktails) and chat to the residents bringing new people to talk to and the opportunity for interesting and stimulating conversations. The charity also provides decorations and themes for the rooms in which the party is held – recent themes have been ‘Roaring Twenties’ and ‘Solar Soiree’. Volunteer party managers liaise with the care home staff and the charity to make sure that drinks and nibbles are served safely and that all goes smoothly.
I couldn’t think of better company to get a beer with on a Wednesday evening! At one party a lady said to me “I don’t know why you spend your time coming here, you must be so tired after work” automatically I took her hand and replied with “I come because I enjoy all of your company!” There are always laughs, stories and an impromptu sing song on the karaoke machine!
All volunteers and party managers come to an induction before going to a party. Many people have never been in a care home and have little interaction with older people or people living with dementia. The inductions help to dispel myths and prepare people to have fun at the parties.
The residents have formed wonderful friendships at the parties, a resident who moved in a few months ago has saved a seat for his friend at every party!
Care home staff member
The volunteering system is very straightforward, volunteers sign up via the Magic Me website here and once inducted can simply log on and choose which party they want to go to, suiting their own availability. Many people choose to go to a local party and develop friendships with residents and staff in a particular home, whilst some prefer to try out different parties in different places.
Care UK’s regional director Phidelima Umeyor said: “We’re always finding new ways to help residents in our home get the most out of life. From circus days to live bands, we’re always busily dispelling the myth that care homes are boring places to live and work. The idea of asking volunteers to host a cocktail party sounds great fun and I’m sure it will be very popular with the ladies and gentlemen living in Lennox House.”
To find out more about volunteering at Cocktails in Care Homes parties in Finsbury Park please contact Sarah Watson at Magic Me on 020 3222 6064 or email sarahwatson@magicme.co.uk
Photographs used for this post are by Roxene Anderson.