"Precious friendship" brings new lease of life to centenarian

Last year, 49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always - this eye opening figure has risen by 6% since 2020 and continues to increase.*

We have been working hard to combat social isolation and loneliness in our community through our Compassionate Neighbours scheme, where community members are matched with trained volunteers who provide support, friendship and a listening ear. Since the project started in 2018, 1,271 lonely people have been referred to the service, with 884 successful matches of friendship.

Four years ago, Dick Tyler from Offley spent a lot of time at home, alone. His son, Kevin, referred him to the service where he was matched with Carol. Over the last four years Dick has also attended the Hospice’s Friday morning Community Hub taking part in seated exercise and social activities.

4 years of friendship: Carol Power, Compassionate Neighbour and Dick Tyler.

Today, Carol and the Compassionate Neighbours team hosted a birthday surprise for 100 year old Dick, with a ‘This is Your Life’ big red book accompanied by a red carpet and some special VIP guests.

Dick himself has seen improvements in his physical health since Carol introduced him to the hub, attributing some of the changes to the seated exercise sessions:

“I can do things better now; I can do more at 99 than I could at 90. I can put my trousers on standing up; I have no trouble putting my socks on; I can walk without a stick if I want to and I can get up if I fall over.

“My life changed when I joined. I’ll keep going until I’m 110 if I can - I shan’t stop until somebody or something stops me.”

Dick receives a special birthday card from the King.

His son, Kevin, has also noticed the difference in his father’s mobility, and explains how Compassionate Neighbours has changed his own life, too:

“His mobility is very good - it’s better now than it was before we came here. I bring him here every Friday. I think it’s made a big, big difference to him.

“It's nice to know that Carol will ring him up or go and see him because it takes the weight off of me, especially if I try and have a holiday, I know that somebody else is there.”

Our staff, including Community Hub Coordinator Gez and Debbie who coordinates Compassionate Neighbours, recall Dick being one of the first community members to attend the hub. They remember him being ‘quite reserved’ at first, but Dick is now a ‘main man’ who everyone - staff, volunteers and community members - has gotten to know.

With excitement building for Dick’s big day, Compassionate Neighbours Project Manager Jeanette adds:

“Every Friday morning everyone makes such an effort - suits and ties and everything. You can't actually put into words what the hub means for someone like Dick.

“It's so powerful - the security, the safety, the friendships, the connections. It just oozes out of these hubs week after week and Dick, who four years ago needed to be connected to somebody, was matched with Carol, and now he's got all of this.

“You couldn’t imagine a new life at 95, but that’s what we provide. We can actually give somebody a whole new purpose and meaning to their world, and now they are 100.”

The relationship between Dick and Carol has also made a huge impact on Carol’s life:

“When I first went to visit Dick, he was very warm and always full of lovely stories about his life in Norfolk. He’s very switched on, but even more so these past few years coming to the hub. There’s a spark that’s even bigger now within him.

“It’s made such a difference to my life having Dick as a friend. One of the biggest privileges I’ve found is being able to have the time to really listen and I take so much away from that. It’s very, very precious.”

It only takes one hour a week to support somebody like Dick and make a real difference to their life. Our next Compassionate Neighbours introductory day is on Wednesday 22^nd November. Visit www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/compassionate-neighbours to complete our application form and continue to help us combat loneliness.