The aim of Friday night, and Saturday was to be a 'practice' run for the full residency. On Friday, after 'The Bush Tucker Challenge' we sat for a while in the lounge. We were surprised that the residents stayed up late. Some watching tv, reading and playing games. The evening feels like it could be a great time to interact with people. Cathleen and Doreen were playing scrabble, 'keeps my grey head working'. Julie who works at night was telling Claire about what the staff do at night - laundry, cleaning the whole building and helping people to bed.
On Saturday we went to say hello (and give a flower) to everyone who lives here at Northbourne and some of the staff too. We were going to do some drawing in the annexe (pictured above) and then expand the drawing into the afternoon; moving through the care home and working with people one on one or in small groups. Our tight plans for the weekend ended up going out of the window as, in the end, saying hello to everyone who lives at Northbourne took most of the morning and it was a lovely thing.
In the afternoon we talked to Amy about our evolving and changing plans for the residency. The challenge is to plan enough to begin working and with a direction but not so much that we end up not doing our main aim which is to resist a traditional 'workshop' structure. We want to use the residency time to be more responsive to the residents and use improvisation etc more. Amy talked us through all the people who live here and their relationships with their families, friends and the outside world:
'If people don't visit, we are the family'Alfie used to be very involved in the local Theatre. He was in the Bridge Club until recently but now the other Bridge players say they don't want him to go as he is too slow. They said he was too grubby and that the care staff should be working more 'to keep him clean'. But Alfie was in the army - at 90 he wants his own weekly routine to be respected. He knows when the staff sneak his clothes away to wash them midweek.
'That's a nice tie, Alfie'
'Yes but it doesn't match the shirt, does it?'
'Oh I think it looks good'
'No, it's not quite right Claire'
But people are still people- ready to give it some, full of hope. Edith wants to have a baby… She knows it would take a miracle -'Well why not?!' There's plenty others less deserving of a miracle than me mind!'. The staff make really close friendships with residents - for most people here it is more than a job and the main bit of the job, the caring, that is the bit that people never see.
'If I didn't have kids, I think I would live here - it's such a nice way to work!'
'That's a nice tie, Alfie'
'Yes but it doesn't match the shirt, does it?'
'Oh I think it looks good'
'No, it's not quite right Claire'
But people are still people- ready to give it some, full of hope. Edith wants to have a baby… She knows it would take a miracle -'Well why not?!' There's plenty others less deserving of a miracle than me mind!'. The staff make really close friendships with residents - for most people here it is more than a job and the main bit of the job, the caring, that is the bit that people never see.
'If I didn't have kids, I think I would live here - it's such a nice way to work!'
9.6.17
Friday night at Northbourne was the 'Bush Tucker Challenge', organised by Amy the activities co-ordinator and dep. manager Emma as a sponsored event to raise money for further activities and events at Northbourne. It was amazing to see so many staff and their families - kids, husband and friends here on a Friday night! The challenges were true to the TV show and absolutely vile… Fish eyes, snails and liquidated tripe were consumed for a good cause!
