Regular companionship helps older lady back on her feet again

Photo: Joanne Leigh, Help at Home Assistant from Age UK Wyvern.

It took a fall and a trip to hospital before Jacqueline Wess felt ready to accept outside help. However, thanks to support and companionship from Age UK Wyvern, she’s once more leaving the house and enjoying life.

Mrs Wess’s family contacted the organisation for help earlier in the year after the 92-year-old suffered a serious fall at home. The incident damaged her confidence, especially when moving around. Now she has frequent visits from Joanne Leigh, a Help at Home Assistant from Age UK Wyvern.

The pair take walks together, enjoying a chat and the chance to appreciate a change of scenery in safety. They plan to start some trips in the car to local shopping centres, to give Mrs Wess the opportunity to browse for things herself rather than rely on someone else.

Joanne has worked for Age UK for over ten years, providing companionship and help with shopping and housework to a wide range of older people:

“The support I provide varies from person to person”, she explains. “Some people want a light meal, and the chance to eat lunch with a bit of company. Others might want a local trip out and having me there gives them the confidence to do this. Sometimes, clients don’t even want to get out of the car when we pop out which is fine – just getting out of the house can be really useful. I always feel that I’m doing a job which makes a real difference. For some people, I might be the only person they see that week.”

Mrs Wess confesses that she was sceptical about accepting help at first:

"To be honest, I thought this kind of help was ‘for elderly people’ and not for me! But now I couldn’t do without Joanne.  It’s definitely put my family’s minds at rest as well."

15 Help at Home Assistants are employed by Age UK Wyvern to provide paid-for support for older people in South Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Jude Henderson, Director of Services at the charity, explained the importance of the service:

“It’s important to many older people to stay at home for as long as possible, but this can be challenging. Often, people can feel isolated when it gets more difficult to visit friends and relatives, and they may find it harder to carry out household tasks. Our Help at Home scheme is very flexible, with staff able to work around the needs of the client – whether that’s wanting someone to chat to, extra confidence going out, or help around the house.”