Interviewer

What is your name, age, and the Friends group you’re a part of?

Patty Yiu

My name is Patty Yiu. I’m 55. And my Friend’s group volunteer in the care home, Aspen Court.

Interviewer

How long have you been volunteering there, and how did you get involved?

Patty Yiu

I started my volunteering from last May, and I saw the advertisement on the Tower Hamlets Connect website, they were looking for a befriender. When I looked at the advertisement and I searched the location, it is only a 30 minute walk from my place, which is perfect. At the time I was looking for volunteer opportunities, I was actually taking an online course for Adult Care Level Three. So, it’s actually part of my study as well. So I connected with Attend, and they gave me some introductions, and signed me up for some training, and my volunteering started.

 

Interviewer

What is your role and what are some of your responsibilities?

Patty Yiu

So as a befriender, I spend a few hours a week, or even every other week, to keep company with the residents. And after six months, I’ve also been offered to distribute meals and being like a butler. I help out during lunchtime, because I find it is easier to connect with residents. Sometimes the older people, they’re not able to talk. They don’t even remember their names well. So if you want to make them remember you, you have to show up, and make them feel conditioned with the meal. If I’m showing up every lunchtime, it’s easier for them to remember my face, and also for myself, I can remember their names. I can actually go, and greet them, and during lunchtime is possibly the only time they’re not sleeping. So, it’s actually the best time for me. I really enjoy doing it, and after lunchtime, I normally can continue my befriending. I can go and have a little chat when they are still awake.

Interviewer

Do you have a favourite memory of volunteering?

Patty Yiu

Yes, in my volunteer times, I feel sometimes it’s difficult when you see your residents, passing away. Of course, it’s suffering. A lot of emotional times, but also, I really enjoy talking to some of them. They still remember some old days and they share about the Second World War, because they don’t really remember you well, they can only remember some of the very, very old memories, but I’m still happy to see them. They can still talk. Yes, I feel really happy to see them. There is one resident who has talked to me about the Second World War, and he’s actually 93. So, you can see when there are bad days, they may not be able to talk, but when the good days come, they can actually share with you a lot of old memories. I learn a lot, and when I get to 93, I probably will be like them. So, I know I can prepare myself  and also to help take care of my friends and my partner when we are older.

Interviewer

What impact do you see the Friends of Aspen Court having on the residents?

Patty Yiu

After one year, I think some of the residents, they start to remember. They remember the conversation they have last week. It’s actually quite amazing because they were told they have dementia. So, sometimes it helps them to retrain their short-term memory and I think that’s actually the greatest impact

Interviewer

For you personally, why do you choose to volunteer and why should others get involved?

Patty Yiu

Being a volunteer is actually highly recommended, especially for you if you want to start another career. I choose to be a volunteer because when I’m changing my career, it’s actually a very good step you should take. You can understand the whole structure of the industry and you understand a client. Because I’m from a customer service field, I’m very people-oriented. When I’m a practice manager, when I’m a social worker, I’m always serving people at the frontline, so I need to know my clients. I’m always told to see what they’re thinking, what is their need of the service. I would not wait until people tell me, I would go and see for myself. This is number one, and number two is I want to combine my previous experiences.

My strength is I’m very good in communication. So, I want to combine my strengths, and in the future, when I want to work in adult care, I will have a solid experience to approach our clients.