Delivery of our Care Words project has been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak, like so many other precious community initiatives. Care Words was set up to deliver reading and reminiscence sessions to older people in care settings across the Falkirk Council area. So, how have we diversified to ensure that clients still receive our input, albeit from a safe distance? Claire Davis, our Care Words Co-ordinator, has put together this blog post to share what she (and Care Words) has been up to:
“I have continued to work from home and have been exploring different ways to stay in touch with both care homes clients and the Care Words Volunteers. I had to be creative and come up with ideas to still maintain a presence, due to not being able to physically visit care homes.
The Care Words Volunteers
One of my main priorities has been maintaining contact with the Care Words volunteers. They have been instrumental in making the project a success and I have formed great relationships with many of them. The demographic of my volunteers meant that some had to shield or step up to help their own families more during this pandemic. Contact has taken the form of weekly emails and phone calls to those who live on their own. When guidelines have allowed I have also met up with the volunteers either outdoors or at cafes for a well needed catch up and blether! All this has been beneficial for our valued volunteers.
When Lockdown Began
Phantom’s Patch
As lockdown began in mid-March and we all were confined to our homes, I looked at what was literally on my door step and decided to photograph my garden and 3 cats. I also penned a little poem about my big cat Phantom. I put it all together into a video for care setting to use with their residents to encourage them to chat and reminisce about their memories of their own pets.
Armchair Travels
Prior to lockdown we introduced a mini project called Armchair Travels where at our sessions, we virtually “visited” particular places with the residents at the care home. These multi-sensory trips looked at history, images of famous landmarks, and discussed inspirational people. Clients were encouraged to contribute their own experiences and share anecdotes of their visits to particular places. Well known songs were sung and poems recited, engaging people in this meaningful activity.
I decided to continue with this and became a sort of virtual tour guide. Using photographs from previous trips, coupled with some information and facts. I created videos showcasing these places, like a 21st century Judith Chalmers!
Kilsyth / Cumbernauld
As lockdown continued I put together a film of my home town and introduced people to the history of Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire and showcased photographs of the lovely green spaces here. I also visited the community peace garden in Cumbernauld and recorded a short stroll around looking at the flowers and memorials, to the sound of some sweet bird song in the background.
Lanzarote
Using some photographs of my many visits to this Canary Island, I created a short tour video, added some factual information and hoped everyone enjoyed a bit of escapism to the sun!
Culross / The Pineapple
Venturing not too far from home as the restrictions eased and the weather improved, I made a trip to the idyllic village of Culross and to The Pineapple summerhouse in nearby Airth. I thought the clients may know and recognize these places and perhaps rekindle some memories for them.
Once restrictions were lifted across Scotland I was delighted to be able to get away in my caravan at the weekends. I was able once again to combine both my love of photography and nature and use it at a later date to make more videos for the clients.
Aberfeldy
Using images of the River Tay and videos of the spectacular waterfalls in Aberfeldy, I created this film set to the prose of Rabbie Burns’ The Birks of Aberfeldy.
The Highlands & Orkney
Using photographs from a trip a few years ago I took people on a tour to the highlands and then onto the famous sights in Orkney such as the Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers.
Blackpool Illuminations
Many Scots made an annual pilgrimage south to see the illuminations in the autumn. I used images accompanied by a poem I wrote, which I hoped would stimulate memories of childhood holidays to Blackpool.
Glasgow Mural Trail
Managing to escape into Glasgow for the first time since February, I did a walking tour of some of the murals which adorn the city walls. I researched facts prior to visiting and hoped the clients enjoyed a “wee day oot” in Glasgow, learning about this relatively new street art.
The Changing Seasons
Throughout the past few months I have tried to link in with the seasons and national celebratory days and chose some inspirational poetry, set with lovely images to reflect this.
Summer Solstice Poem
Autumn Poem
Remembrance Day
I revisited the Cumbernauld peace garden in Autumn to show the leaves changing colour and falling from the trees. I set these images to the poem Give Us Our Peace by Langston Hughes to commemorate our fallen heroes.
Social Media Engagement
I was keen to encourage other people to contribute to these pieces of work throughout the pandemic and put calls out on social media.
Stanley Watson
One very talented man from Falkirk responded to the call (through his daughter) and I was delighted to receive some fantastic poems penned by Mr Watson, some written as far back as the 1970s. I added some images to these poems and shared them with not only the care home residents but with the wider online world. I think seeing the results inspired Mr Watson to then record himself reciting his poetry on social media.
Remembering Halloween
As autumn approached I asked people on social media, to recall their memories of being a child at Halloween time. With their responses I produced a “wicked” poem set to images to celebrate Samhain/Halloween.
Christmas Video (in the making)
My volunteers are working on pieces of work so I can put together a video for the festive period. A few of my close friends have recorded themselves singing Christmas songs and at the moment I am putting images and photographs to their songs. They have also recorded well known classic songs which the clients will enjoy at a later date too.
2021
As we head into a New Year, Care Words will continue to provide a digital service until the day we are given the go ahead to visit our clients in their care settings once again. We will by then have this new great audio visual resource built up, to complement our themed resource bags and will continue to develop our resources to best meet the needs of our clients.
Mr Watson had written a poem about New Year in Scotland which I aim to back up with images and bring to life for a Hogmanay celebration.
Want to contribute?
If you would like to contribute any songs, poetry, readings or photographs to this community resource please get in touch.
You may have a story to tell…
Or want sing a song for us…
Or share your memories of your childhood in the Falkirk area which may resonate with our clients.
If so please contact me at;
claire.davis@falkirkcommunitytrust.org
to discuss your ideas.