about a year ago I signed myself up to volunteer at my local nursing home I had
volunteer at my local nursing home I had
volunteer at my local nursing home I had recently decided to pursue a career as
recently decided to pursue a career as
recently decided to pursue a career as doctor and aspiration which would have a
doctor and aspiration which would have a
doctor and aspiration which would have a much higher chance of success if I were
much higher chance of success if I were
much higher chance of success if I were to get some experience in care under my
to get some experience in care under my
to get some experience in care under my belt now in my time volunteering I went
belt now in my time volunteering I went
belt now in my time volunteering I went through some realizations and because of
through some realizations and because of
through some realizations and because of those realizations I’ve come here to
those realizations I’ve come here to
those realizations I’ve come here to tell you why I feel that we as young
tell you why I feel that we as young
tell you why I feel that we as young people need to stop viewing volunteering
people need to stop viewing volunteering
people need to stop viewing volunteering as this praiseworthy CV building
as this praiseworthy CV building
as this praiseworthy CV building activity and instead is more of an
activity and instead is more of an
activity and instead is more of an expected social norm but before I get
expected social norm but before I get
expected social norm but before I get into that maybe I should first talk you
into that maybe I should first talk you
into that maybe I should first talk you through those realizations that I has
through those realizations that I has
through those realizations that I has now many of you here will likely have
now many of you here will likely have
now many of you here will likely have quite bleak ideas of what a nursing home
quite bleak ideas of what a nursing home
quite bleak ideas of what a nursing home is like the residents will be old and
is like the residents will be old and
is like the residents will be old and frail reaching the end of their lives
frail reaching the end of their lives
frail reaching the end of their lives either bedridden or on medication
either bedridden or on medication
either bedridden or on medication regulated meals the perpetual sound of
regulated meals the perpetual sound of
regulated meals the perpetual sound of coughing ringing through the halls and
coughing ringing through the halls and
coughing ringing through the halls and so on now I would love to say I’m
so on now I would love to say I’m
so on now I would love to say I’m standing up here to prove you all wrong
standing up here to prove you all wrong
standing up here to prove you all wrong to let you know from my own experience
to let you know from my own experience
to let you know from my own experience that this view of nursing homes is the
that this view of nursing homes is the
that this view of nursing homes is the result of ignorance or misinformation
result of ignorance or misinformation
result of ignorance or misinformation that in fact these faces are actually a
that in fact these faces are actually a
that in fact these faces are actually a lot earlier than what the stories would
lot earlier than what the stories would
lot earlier than what the stories would have you believe I can’t
have you believe I can’t
have you believe I can’t unfortunately for everything I saw much
unfortunately for everything I saw much
unfortunately for everything I saw much of the stereotypes ring true as much as
of the stereotypes ring true as much as
of the stereotypes ring true as much as some of us would like to believe they
some of us would like to believe they
some of us would like to believe they don’t but it became very curious as to
don’t but it became very curious as to
don’t but it became very curious as to why this was the case why do you nursing
why this was the case why do you nursing
why this was the case why do you nursing homes exude such a profound sense of
homes exude such a profound sense of
homes exude such a profound sense of bleakness it certainly wasn’t due to a
bleakness it certainly wasn’t due to a
bleakness it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of medical care the nurses were
lack of medical care the nurses were
lack of medical care the nurses were doing above and beyond what could be
doing above and beyond what could be
doing above and beyond what could be asked them as they tend to do and the
asked them as they tend to do and the
asked them as they tend to do and the nursing home itself was very well looked
nursing home itself was very well looked
nursing home itself was very well looked after so what then
after so what then
after so what then now believe it or not the best way to
now believe it or not the best way to
now believe it or not the best way to find out why people are feeling down is
find out why people are feeling down is
find out why people are feeling down is to talk to them which is why I did and
to talk to them which is why I did and
to talk to them which is why I did and what I found was
what I found was
what I found was i opening you see all of the residents
i opening you see all of the residents
i opening you see all of the residents who I had thought were these brain-dead
who I had thought were these brain-dead
who I had thought were these brain-dead zombies that I’d looked in on during my
zombies that I’d looked in on during my
zombies that I’d looked in on during my introductory tour well it turns out they
introductory tour well it turns out they
introductory tour well it turns out they were actually just suffering the
were actually just suffering the
were actually just suffering the terrible effects of loneliness upon
terrible effects of loneliness upon
terrible effects of loneliness upon spending time with these people I soon
spending time with these people I soon
spending time with these people I soon came to realize that many of the
came to realize that many of the
came to realize that many of the residents had very few visitors which
residents had very few visitors which
residents had very few visitors which meant they had little to no social
meant they had little to no social
meant they had little to no social contact every day especially those that
contact every day especially those that
contact every day especially those that were bedridden upon spending time with
were bedridden upon spending time with
were bedridden upon spending time with these people
these people
these people I soon came to realize that many of the
I soon came to realize that many of the
I soon came to realize that many of the residents had very few visitors which
residents had very few visitors which
residents had very few visitors which meant firstly that the Herald’s no
meant firstly that the Herald’s no
meant firstly that the Herald’s no social contact every day the thing is
social contact every day the thing is
social contact every day the thing is healthy social contact is essential we
healthy social contact is essential we
healthy social contact is essential we need someone to express our thoughts to
need someone to express our thoughts to
need someone to express our thoughts to you
you
you to keep our mind stimulated it’s a basic
to keep our mind stimulated it’s a basic
to keep our mind stimulated it’s a basic necessity the lack of this contact had
necessity the lack of this contact had
necessity the lack of this contact had led to these people becoming excessively
led to these people becoming excessively
led to these people becoming excessively reserved and inactive to the point of
reserved and inactive to the point of
reserved and inactive to the point of being depressed surprisingly I was to
being depressed surprisingly I was to
being depressed surprisingly I was to find that this isn’t even that uncommon
find that this isn’t even that uncommon
find that this isn’t even that uncommon a recent study quoted by Age UK showed
a recent study quoted by Age UK showed
a recent study quoted by Age UK showed that depression and loneliness affects
that depression and loneliness affects
that depression and loneliness affects 40 percent of people in care homes if
40 percent of people in care homes if
40 percent of people in care homes if this was an alarming enough it was also
this was an alarming enough it was also
this was an alarming enough it was also found about people with high degrees of
found about people with high degrees of
found about people with high degrees of loneliness are twice as likely to
loneliness are twice as likely to
loneliness are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than people with no
develop Alzheimer’s than people with no
develop Alzheimer’s than people with no degrees of loneliness
degrees of loneliness
degrees of loneliness to summarize loneliness and depression
to summarize loneliness and depression
to summarize loneliness and depression and elderly people is a major crisis not
and elderly people is a major crisis not
and elderly people is a major crisis not only for the older people themselves but
only for the older people themselves but
only for the older people themselves but for our healthcare services as a whole
for our healthcare services as a whole
for our healthcare services as a whole but how do we go about dealing with this
but how do we go about dealing with this
but how do we go about dealing with this crisis well we have our base problem
crisis well we have our base problem
crisis well we have our base problem which is the lack of social contact and
which is the lack of social contact and
which is the lack of social contact and so logically our solution must be to
so logically our solution must be to
so logically our solution must be to increase the social contact and while I
increase the social contact and while I
increase the social contact and while I recognize there may be systemic changes
recognize there may be systemic changes
recognize there may be systemic changes to the health care service that could
to the health care service that could
to the health care service that could potentially be implemented we need to
potentially be implemented we need to
potentially be implemented we need to realize that as individuals we can make
realize that as individuals we can make
realize that as individuals we can make our own direct impact by simply taking
our own direct impact by simply taking
our own direct impact by simply taking out the time to volunteer we don’t need
out the time to volunteer we don’t need
out the time to volunteer we don’t need to rely on our governments to take
to rely on our governments to take
to rely on our governments to take action for us each of us can make that
action for us each of us can make that
action for us each of us can make that difference ourselves even if it will be
difference ourselves even if it will be
difference ourselves even if it will be small at least we’ll be making one and
small at least we’ll be making one and
small at least we’ll be making one and taking that first step of progress about
taking that first step of progress about
taking that first step of progress about six months into my volunteering a woman
six months into my volunteering a woman
six months into my volunteering a woman I would often
I would often
I would often to who I will call Jean told me that her
to who I will call Jean told me that her
to who I will call Jean told me that her daughter had recently been diagnosed
daughter had recently been diagnosed
daughter had recently been diagnosed with cancer since Jean was bedridden and
with cancer since Jean was bedridden and
with cancer since Jean was bedridden and in need frequent supervision there was
in need frequent supervision there was
in need frequent supervision there was no way that she could go and stay with
no way that she could go and stay with
no way that she could go and stay with her child and nor could she ask her
her child and nor could she ask her
her child and nor could she ask her child to come and see her without
child to come and see her without
child to come and see her without feeling like she was being a burden
feeling like she was being a burden
feeling like she was being a burden which sucks and the most painful thing
which sucks and the most painful thing
which sucks and the most painful thing of all when it comes to cases like genes
of all when it comes to cases like genes
of all when it comes to cases like genes is there’s not very much the care
is there’s not very much the care
is there’s not very much the care services can do to fix her situation
services can do to fix her situation
services can do to fix her situation there definitely wasn’t very much I a
there definitely wasn’t very much I a
there definitely wasn’t very much I a volunteer could do to enable this mother
volunteer could do to enable this mother
volunteer could do to enable this mother to be near her child through such a
to be near her child through such a
to be near her child through such a painful time but what I could do with my
painful time but what I could do with my
painful time but what I could do with my handful of hours every week would be to
handful of hours every week would be to
handful of hours every week would be to listen to offer supports to let Jeanne
listen to offer supports to let Jeanne
listen to offer supports to let Jeanne express her feelings to me and to be her
express her feelings to me and to be her
express her feelings to me and to be her friend I couldn’t take her daughter’s
friend I couldn’t take her daughter’s
friend I couldn’t take her daughter’s cancer away I couldn’t even enable her
cancer away I couldn’t even enable her
cancer away I couldn’t even enable her to be close to her daughter but at least
to be close to her daughter but at least
to be close to her daughter but at least I was there for her at least I listened
I was there for her at least I listened
I was there for her at least I listened and fundamentally that is what’s key
and fundamentally that is what’s key
and fundamentally that is what’s key making anyone feel understood is as
making anyone feel understood is as
making anyone feel understood is as simple as taking the time to be present
simple as taking the time to be present
simple as taking the time to be present and exercising basic human empathy and
and exercising basic human empathy and
and exercising basic human empathy and that’s a skill if you can call it that
that’s a skill if you can call it that
that’s a skill if you can call it that is available to every young person and
is available to every young person and
is available to every young person and we should use that skill not only
we should use that skill not only
we should use that skill not only because it’s the right thing to do but
because it’s the right thing to do but
because it’s the right thing to do but because it’s necessary to the average
because it’s necessary to the average
because it’s necessary to the average person charity will mean raising and
person charity will mean raising and
person charity will mean raising and donating money to help an organization
donating money to help an organization
donating money to help an organization fighting for a cause but the bedrock of
fighting for a cause but the bedrock of
fighting for a cause but the bedrock of so many great causes especially health
so many great causes especially health
so many great causes especially health and social care isn’t money it’s time
and social care isn’t money it’s time
and social care isn’t money it’s time and people we need to stop being content
and people we need to stop being content
and people we need to stop being content with just cheering on from the sidelines
with just cheering on from the sidelines
with just cheering on from the sidelines through our donations though they are
through our donations though they are
through our donations though they are important and begin to take a former
important and begin to take a former
important and begin to take a former active role in the causes that we can
active role in the causes that we can
active role in the causes that we can and this can’t be out of a desire to
and this can’t be out of a desire to
and this can’t be out of a desire to improve our own prospects but indeed out
improve our own prospects but indeed out
improve our own prospects but indeed out of a sense of communal duty now look
of a sense of communal duty now look
of a sense of communal duty now look it’s very hard to care about matters
it’s very hard to care about matters
it’s very hard to care about matters that don’t affect us I realize that I’m
that don’t affect us I realize that I’m
that don’t affect us I realize that I’m only up here talking to you about
only up here talking to you about
only up here talking to you about elderly care because my personal
elderly care because my personal
elderly care because my personal experience with the issue but then
experience with the issue but then
experience with the issue but then elderly care will be a personal
elderly care will be a personal
elderly care will be a personal experience for most of us
experience for most of us
experience for most of us Poynter
Poynter
Poynter hu ke predicts that by 2040 nearly a
hu ke predicts that by 2040 nearly a
hu ke predicts that by 2040 nearly a quarter of our population will be over
quarter of our population will be over
quarter of our population will be over 65
65
65 if the elderly population of today is
if the elderly population of today is
if the elderly population of today is facing such an extreme lack of social
facing such an extreme lack of social
facing such an extreme lack of social contact how can we expect our parents
contact how can we expect our parents
contact how can we expect our parents generation or even our own generation to
generation or even our own generation to
generation or even our own generation to cope we need to start a major cultural
cope we need to start a major cultural
cope we need to start a major cultural shift if we want to see a society that
shift if we want to see a society that
shift if we want to see a society that supports each other and that means we
supports each other and that means we
supports each other and that means we the young people need to take an active
the young people need to take an active
the young people need to take an active role in the community in our communities
role in the community in our communities
role in the community in our communities that will mean giving a few hours over
that will mean giving a few hours over
that will mean giving a few hours over the weekend and it will mean that we
the weekend and it will mean that we
the weekend and it will mean that we expose ourselves to sometimes depressing
expose ourselves to sometimes depressing
expose ourselves to sometimes depressing situations and look I can only draw my
situations and look I can only draw my
situations and look I can only draw my own experience but let me tell you that
own experience but let me tell you that
own experience but let me tell you that pushing in that time is an incredible
pushing in that time is an incredible
pushing in that time is an incredible growing experience
growing experience
growing experience we all have base levels of empathy for
we all have base levels of empathy for
we all have base levels of empathy for the vulnerable people in our society and
the vulnerable people in our society and
the vulnerable people in our society and it’s fair to say all of us are good and
it’s fair to say all of us are good and
it’s fair to say all of us are good and well-meaning people but we need this
well-meaning people but we need this
well-meaning people but we need this kind of exposure to really care to drive
kind of exposure to really care to drive
kind of exposure to really care to drive ourselves to becoming truly committed
ourselves to becoming truly committed
ourselves to becoming truly committed not only to the intention of easing the
not only to the intention of easing the
not only to the intention of easing the suffering of others but to the actual
suffering of others but to the actual
suffering of others but to the actual action of it thank you
fantastic so that was just incredible
fantastic so that was just incredible and I love that initially you went into
and I love that initially you went into
and I love that initially you went into this with the same mindset that most
this with the same mindset that most
this with the same mindset that most people would have so what were your
people would have so what were your
people would have so what were your thoughts when you think I’ll go
thoughts when you think I’ll go
thoughts when you think I’ll go volunteer yes so um I mean as I said it
volunteer yes so um I mean as I said it
volunteer yes so um I mean as I said it was mainly due to my desire to improve
was mainly due to my desire to improve
was mainly due to my desire to improve my application but upon spending time
my application but upon spending time
my application but upon spending time with these people it was very clear that
with these people it was very clear that
with these people it was very clear that there was a major need for volunteers
there was a major need for volunteers
there was a major need for volunteers like me and you know it’s important that
like me and you know it’s important that
like me and you know it’s important that you’re passionate about about what
you’re passionate about about what
you’re passionate about about what you’re doing when you’re talking to
you’re doing when you’re talking to
you’re doing when you’re talking to these people you need to engage with
these people you need to engage with
these people you need to engage with them fully you can’t just need to have a
them fully you can’t just need to have a
them fully you can’t just need to have a need to you know improve your own
need to you know improve your own
need to you know improve your own prospects you have to want to help them
prospects you have to want to help them
prospects you have to want to help them yeah and that’s how you engage them in
yeah and that’s how you engage them in
yeah and that’s how you engage them in full conversation that’s how you make
full conversation that’s how you make
full conversation that’s how you make them feel better I think that’s what’s
them feel better I think that’s what’s
them feel better I think that’s what’s key i but I love that that was your
key i but I love that that was your
key i but I love that that was your journey that you went in because you
journey that you went in because you
journey that you went in because you thought well this will benefit me it’s a
thought well this will benefit me it’s a
thought well this will benefit me it’s a good thing to do it’s the right thing to
good thing to do it’s the right thing to
good thing to do it’s the right thing to do but actually
do but actually
do but actually that transformation have suddenly just
that transformation have suddenly just
that transformation have suddenly just connecting and it’s like you never lose
connecting and it’s like you never lose
connecting and it’s like you never lose the need as a human to be acknowledged
the need as a human to be acknowledged
the need as a human to be acknowledged and validated just because you can’t
and validated just because you can’t
and validated just because you can’t articulate it I mean it’s not there
articulate it I mean it’s not there
articulate it I mean it’s not there absolutely and you know what I think it
absolutely and you know what I think it
absolutely and you know what I think it definitely has benefited me not just in
definitely has benefited me not just in
definitely has benefited me not just in the way that I intended it to but it’s
the way that I intended it to but it’s
the way that I intended it to but it’s develop my sense of compassion it’s made
develop my sense of compassion it’s made
develop my sense of compassion it’s made me more aware of the problems like in
me more aware of the problems like in
me more aware of the problems like in our social care system ya know I think
our social care system ya know I think
our social care system ya know I think it’s been a great experience and I would
it’s been a great experience and I would
it’s been a great experience and I would encourage everyone to have that
encourage everyone to have that
encourage everyone to have that experience – I love what you say about a
experience – I love what you say about a
experience – I love what you say about a cultural shift because there is this
cultural shift because there is this
cultural shift because there is this idea about volunteering I have got time
idea about volunteering I have got time
idea about volunteering I have got time or oh I’ll give money and that whole
or oh I’ll give money and that whole
or oh I’ll give money and that whole thing of I’ve been guilty of that sort
thing of I’ve been guilty of that sort
thing of I’ve been guilty of that sort of signing up every month to send a few
of signing up every month to send a few
of signing up every month to send a few quid because it kind of eases my guilt
quid because it kind of eases my guilt
quid because it kind of eases my guilt about you know being privileged but it’s
about you know being privileged but it’s
about you know being privileged but it’s that thing of it’s funny how much time
that thing of it’s funny how much time
that thing of it’s funny how much time you can find if you stop doing things
you can find if you stop doing things
you can find if you stop doing things that are a waste of time and and you’ve
that are a waste of time and and you’ve
that are a waste of time and and you’ve been for a basically she was studying as
been for a basically she was studying as
been for a basically she was studying as well this isn’t something you’ve taken
well this isn’t something you’ve taken
well this isn’t something you’ve taken time off for I have yes no it’s I’ve
time off for I have yes no it’s I’ve
time off for I have yes no it’s I’ve done my best to incorporate it in my
done my best to incorporate it in my
done my best to incorporate it in my schedule and you know what it wasn’t
schedule and you know what it wasn’t
schedule and you know what it wasn’t even that hard as I thought it would be
even that hard as I thought it would be
even that hard as I thought it would be like once I set aside time it was very
like once I set aside time it was very
like once I set aside time it was very easy to fit my other things around it
easy to fit my other things around it
easy to fit my other things around it yeah it’s just it’s the commitment isn’t
yeah it’s just it’s the commitment isn’t
yeah it’s just it’s the commitment isn’t it I’m looking for and one thing we were
it I’m looking for and one thing we were
it I’m looking for and one thing we were talking about is we talked about sort of
talking about is we talked about sort of
talking about is we talked about sort of elderly care homes where they have a
elderly care homes where they have a
elderly care homes where they have a place call or nursery on-site yes so the
place call or nursery on-site yes so the
place call or nursery on-site yes so the older people get to work with it because
older people get to work with it because
older people get to work with it because if you if you have dementia often things
if you if you have dementia often things
if you if you have dementia often things have to be repeated and young children
have to be repeated and young children
have to be repeated and young children just like to read the same books again
just like to read the same books again
just like to read the same books again and again it looks like win-win to me
and again it looks like win-win to me
and again it looks like win-win to me that sort of situation so I think we
that sort of situation so I think we
that sort of situation so I think we might get together and just design that
might get together and just design that
might get together and just design that and build that we’ll do that after the
and build that we’ll do that after the
and build that we’ll do that after the break please put you hands together for
break please put you hands together for
break please put you hands together for some me thank you everybody
some me thank you everybody
some me thank you everybody you
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