To ask those working in healthcare how I can be more useful as a volunteer?

[Blueygreeneyes]

Hi everyone,

I am volunteering in a nursing home for people with a specific condition as well as other quite severe physical and learning disabilities. Most are non verbal or have very limited speech and most are in wheelchairs. I really enjoy getting to know the staff and service users.

This is because I have a connection to the organisation through the condition they all have in common and am working towards applying to study medicine.

I currently spend time reading, painting, playing games, going for walks, nail painting, drawing and chatting with the service users one on one and feeding those that need help at mealtimes. I sometimes help with laundry or dishes but volunteers are not permitted to do food prep or personal care such as continence or bathing.

I just wondered whether anyone has any other suggestions for ways I could contribute more or activities the residents might enjoy. I dont drive so couldn't really take people offsite due to the logistics as it is quite remote and there's nowhere really to go that's wheelchair accessible in walking distance also I'm not really musical so singing would not be the best idea!!

Depending on the age and of course preference of the residents, but my cousin who has a severe learning disability and other issues loves to dance (she's 46 and SClub7 and that kind of thing, think wedding disco, is her preference).
To make sure you are offering activities that people want, how about making a visual menu of options - gardening (if its an option, it would be a great time of year to pot up some tubs for outside), paint nails, card game, dominos, have my hair done, football (sitting or wheelchair) and so on, and let them point to the appropriate picture and text.

Thanks CMOT I love the idea about the menu, will get drawing! Also the gardening is a good un. I have some sunflower seedlings I could take

On the outdoors/gardening theme bug 'bingo' played in the garden with picture boards, sometimes just being outside and soaking it in is enough to escape from the routine. Mindfulness activities might also be relevant to some. Therapy dogs/dolls/teddies/fiddle mitts/pictures.

Sensory gardening with herbs (using the £1 pot plants from the supermarket) for smell & textures x

What activities do their activity coordinator currently provide? That should give you an indication of what type of activities the service users like, are able to participate in and will get something from the activity.

Don’t see it as just an activity, see how they will benefit. E,g sat there colouring in a book, may give them hand and eye coronation, enjoyment of creating a picture. But gardening could be- sitting outside in the sunshine, working together as a group, gaining knowledge of gardening, hand and eye co ordination, patience if waiting their turn and so on. (Sorry if I haven’t explained it well I’m tired):

Anything to stimulate the senses.

Hand massage
Memory boxes
Music from 30s, 40s, 50s even if you can't sing.
Therapy Dolls

No suggestions, but just wanted to say kudos to you OP, what a truly generous and kind thing to be doing already, and now trying to be even better! I take my hat off to you!

Thanks nearly! Very kind of you, I'm learning so much as well though!

Really great suggestions that help define what I'm trying to achieve in doing activities with the SUs that will benefit them with the point about sensory stimulation.

So Snowy, the activities they already do include music therapy, bingo (carers marking the cards mostly), going to church on a Sunday where they enjoy the hymns (there isn't really a religious angle to this, it's more the social aspect and participation; they have tambourines and things), they watch films together, a lady comes to play guitar and sing with them and they do some crafts in the house. Although their own participation is limited, the enjoyment of helping create something is apparent. They also do more organised stuff such as excursions from time to time.

There is one lady who is more mobile and verbal but has quite severe ASD and finds it difficult distinguishing between reality and fantasy so although I am no expert, it seems common sense that she in particular might benefit from a practical activity such as gardening- learning a new skill, seeing an end result over time, fresh air and as you say, teamwork.