Buddy Project

Become a Hazeldene Buddy

Hazeldene House is a modern, purpose built Care Home in Pembury providing care and nursing to around 80 frail and ageing residents, with Dementia type illnesses. We are part of the Graham Care Group of 7 homes in the South East, owned by Dr Karen and Ernie Graham. A principal approach to our care provision is ‘Relationship Centred Care’ which is why building relationships between our residents and people in our local community is important to us.

Why does Hazeldene House have Buddies?

We have many reasons why we would like to invite local Buddies into Hazeldene House,
including to;

• provide our residents with extra opportunities for friendship and social connection they might not otherwise get due to family circumstances.
• give local people with spare time due to retirement, redundancy or children going to school, a chance to do something different, develop new skills and knowledge and meet other local people, while supporting people in their community
• enhance the great work our staff do to enrich the lives of residents and make Hazeldene House a community hub where ‘nice things happen’

What Does a Buddy Do?

A Buddy is someone living nearby, who comes in on a regular basis for visits with our residents. The visits are a source of great enjoyment and satisfaction for our residents, staff and the Buddies themselves. Our residents really enjoy getting to know their Buddies as well as sharing their own memories and wealth of life experience.

Every Buddy is unique, so what they do when they visit can vary depending on their skills, interests and their availability. Some Buddies come in once a week at the same time to visit a particular resident. They might help their resident write letters or keep up with family birthdays and events. Some buddy visits are based on a shared interest, like music or reading, or to help a resident participate in an activity like gardening or crafts. Others may come in with a specific skill or interest which an individual or small group of residents enjoy – such as modelling or card making.

Who Can be a Buddy?

Buddies come from all age groups and walks of life. Some of our Buddies are retired, some work part time, others work full time but visit in the evening or weekends. Some come alone, while others visit in pairs. Some are younger and come as part of work experience, other very young buddies visit with their parents.

What Skills do I Need to be a Buddy?

Some Buddies are the kind of people who are good at listening and conversation but are patient as some residents can’t communicate the way they once did. Some Buddies are comfortable with little or no conversation but are happy to just be with a resident which can be the source of great comfort. Others are active types who prefer to ‘do something’, so may come to help with activities or bring in a hobby or craft activity of their own.

How often Does a Buddy Visit?

Though many of our Buddies visit on a regular weekly basis, others come to just on specific occasions for a particular activity. We only ask you to give what you can and would enjoy, as this is how we get the best from you.

What Support Do Buddies Receive?

We provide our buddies with training and induction appropriate to the type of visiting they are doing, including information about age related conditions such as Dementia. We have a Buddy Co-ordinator who looks after the needs of all our Buddies and provides them with opportunities, both individually and with other Buddies, to discuss how things are going for them and provide any ongoing support or training relevant to their Buddy role.

How can I become a Buddy?

Every Buddy relationship starts with a visit to Hazeldene House on an informal basis to meet our staff and residents, usually in one of our residents’ lounges over a cup of tea. This might be as part of one of our monthly Buddy Afternoons or a residents’ activity session. Once you have visited a couple of times, and had a tour of our modern, purpose built home, you can talk to our Buddy Co-ordinator about how best your skills can be used in the future. You may want to become an individual Buddy, help with activities or just drop by now and then for a visit to the lounge. It is exciting for us and our residents to welcome new Buddies, find out what they can bring, and what they can gain from their visits to us.

To find out more about becoming a Hazeldene Buddy, contact Sandie Peters, our Buddy
Co-ordinator, who will arrange for you to visit with no obligation. You can call Sandie on
07881 378073 or email sandie@grahamcare.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill in the attached form and return it to us electronically or print on off and drop it in to us at;

Hazeldene House
Romford Lane
Pembury TN2 4AY