BEFRIENDING AND CONNECTING
The Vision
Research suggests that care home residents have as little as 2 minutes social interaction each day. All it needs is one person in each church with a heart for older people who can recruit and co-ordinate two or three volunteers.
There are about 17,500 care homes across the UK and over 50,000 churches. We want to see every care home adopted by a local church, with each church co-ordinating a Care Home Friends project.
Our vision is to raise up an army of trained volunteers to befriend and support care home residents, many of whom can feel overlooked and ignored. Together we can make an enormous difference in the lives of some of the oldest and frailest members of our community.
There are about 17,500 care homes across the UK and over 50,000 churches. We want to see every care home adopted by a local church, with each church co-ordinating a Care Home Friends project.
Our vision is to raise up an army of trained volunteers to befriend and support care home residents, many of whom can feel overlooked and ignored. Together we can make an enormous difference in the lives of some of the oldest and frailest members of our community.
HELPING CHURCHES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Having a volunteer has "tranformed my life!"
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Our trained volunteers offer friendship and support to elderly residents in care homes. Research suggests that older people in care homes are twice as likely to feel lonely as older people living in the community.
Support is all about building a friendship with a care home resident. This can include simply chatting, taking them out for a walk, or doing a crossword. Our volunteers help residents in different ways. This includes helping with IT skills, playing a board game or doing gardening with a resident. |
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CARE HOME FRIENDS:
A 90 year old care home resident:
“We talk about things that we wouldn’t talk about in here. I feel like I am out in the normal world talking to a normal person. It’s normal and it’s lovely! I look forward to his visits all week”.
“We talk about things that we wouldn’t talk about in here. I feel like I am out in the normal world talking to a normal person. It’s normal and it’s lovely! I look forward to his visits all week”.
A Care Home Manager:
“I cannot speak highly enough about your service. The quality of people your organisation sends to me is excellent, and I think what is really important is they really want to be here. Congratulations in getting it right!”
“I cannot speak highly enough about your service. The quality of people your organisation sends to me is excellent, and I think what is really important is they really want to be here. Congratulations in getting it right!”
One of our Volunteers:
"Volunteering has increased my sense of purpose in life. I genuinely enjoy befriending people and the conversations that we have!"
"Volunteering has increased my sense of purpose in life. I genuinely enjoy befriending people and the conversations that we have!"
Matt Bird, Founder of the Cinnamon Network
"The way Care Home Friends helps local churches adopt residential care homes to befriend elderly people, particularly those who experience loneliness, is brilliant and beautiful!"
"The way Care Home Friends helps local churches adopt residential care homes to befriend elderly people, particularly those who experience loneliness, is brilliant and beautiful!"
Are you interested in making a difference?
Could your church start a Care Home Friends project?
We'll give you all the help and support you need.
Contact us for more information.
Contact us for more information.
"Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” Psalm 71v9
Care Home Friends is a project of Embracing Age, Registered Charity No. 1160400 © 2018 EMBRACING AGE.