Nan is one of HI Friends regular attendees. Her circumstances demonstrate why the services of HI Friends are so critical for elderly members of our community. Sarah Nalden visited Nan to find out about her incredible life story, and how she benefits from the services of HI Friends.
The challenges that Nan faces:
Nan is 98 years old. In the past few months her back has been causing her to be less mobile and independent. She gave up driving when she retired but has always remained fit and active and enjoyed walking. Until earlier this year she used to walk into the village every day using her walker and would even walk to the HI Friends Lunch Club from her house once to twice a week (just short of a mile), only using the minibus for the return journey. Getting out and about in the community has not only helped Nan retain her fitness and independence, but has also helped her maintain lots of social contact which she enjoys. Her back complaint means that she is not able to get out on her walker. Her daughter gives her lifts when she can but Nan wants to be as independent as possible.
Growing up
At the age of 13, Nan, from Darlington, and her 8 year old brother went on the 2 week journey by boat to Canada, as part of the WW2 government evacuation scheme. They lived with their Aunt who they had never met before, and Nan enjoyed school life in her new home.
At the age of 18 Nan set sail back to the UK. The convoy of boats was targeted and the boat in front of hers was exploded by enemy forces. It sunk. The boat Nan was on managed to reach the UK safely and she travelled home to re-aquaint herself with her mother. She’d left a child and returned an adult.
She went to college and trained to become a primary school teacher. She met her husband, a headmaster, got married and family life began.
At a later point, when they moved to Whitby, she became Deputy Head. She raised her son and daughter and is now a great grandmother.
Sadly, Nan was widowed 20 years ago.
Nan’s later life
About 20 years ago, Nan relocated to Waterbeach to be close to her daughter and subsequently, followed her daughter to Histon 12 years ago. Her son lives on a small island off the Isle of Skye. Up until her back complaint, Nan managed to run her house independently despite developing macular degeneration, cataracts and hearing loss. Now, she has support for an hour or so in the mornings to help her get started with the day. Her daughter orders grocery shopping for her along with pre-made nutritious dinners that she can put in the microwave. Sometimes Nan will make herself a basic pasta dish using her new discovery of sauce from a jar (she would have laboured over making her own sauce in days gone by). Her daughter regularly visits in the evenings.
Nan enjoys music and used to play the piano and be part of a choir. Always the social butterfly, she would visit care homes and play to the elderly and even once played to HI Friends participants. Years later, since becoming a participant at HI Friends herself, she has donated her piano to HI Friends as she can no longer see the keys to play. Despite these setbacks, her zest for life hasn’t stopped her becoming a central part of HI Friends Lunch Club, and she always tries to interact with all the participants.
How Nan uses HI Friends to keep connected
Now that walking is not so much an option, Nan is very dependent on HI Friends’ Lunch Club and another HI Friends club called ‘Holiday at Home’, whereby older people in the village are able to enjoy day trips to attractions around the region, in the community minibus. Like so many other service users, she simply couldn’t attend activities and outings that keep her socially connected, active and mentally stimulated if it wasn’t for clubs and resources such as these. She would become severely isolated, lonely and cut off from her friends and the community that she is a big part of. Importantly for Nan, she would feel less independent. The impact of the HI Friends’ services cannot be underestimated.
“Joining HI Friends is the best thing I ever did”
Nan
She enjoys the people and the new friendships that she’s made since outliving many of her original friends. She likes the variety of activities that take place as well as the guest speakers, especially the musical ones who can play her donated piano.
Having been actively supportive of her local community throughout her life, it’s time for us to now support people like Nan.