Meet our members: Lynda Cooper

Lynda is one of our members who has been volunteering at the tea parties at both South Leeds Independence Centre (SLIC) and the Community Intermediate Care Unit (CICU). Lynda wrote this post as she has been particularly struck by her involvement and the work that those at the centres do.  

Andrew and Lynda

"I can remember my first visit to SLIC so clearly.  I was welcomed by Chloe, membership and involvement officer, who introduced me to Andrew, the centre manager.  Andrew chatted about the set up of the building and very kindly took us on a tour.  The facilities were excellent and very much aimed at making the patients stay as comfortable as possible, whilst also maintaining a positive environment to enable improvement in their physical wellbeing.

 The staff are amazing, they are very busy individuals but they never let it get in the way of keeping a cheerful persona.  The patience and care given is beyond anything I have seen in hospital wards for the elderly in the city.

I personally find it very enjoyable talking to the patients at the tea parties and it gives us all the  chance to chat to someone new, even if only for a short while.  I feel we are being given an opportunity to make a difference to the patients stay by introducing new interests.  The Steering Group is soon to meet at the centre to discuss what initiatives might be welcomed by both staff and patients to improve their stay.

I think there is an opportunity to involve members of LCH and the community to spend some time visiting the centre.  There are surely a lot of people out there who would enjoy and indeed benefit from visiting the patients.  I also think the time is right to give the local community encouragement to become involved.  Perhaps children at the local schools could in agreement with the Head of the school be asked to visit the centre, both age groups could benefit from the visits and it would ensure that the young ones realise how valuable, knowledgeable and entertaining elderly people can be. 

Maybe there is a need for climate change in the way the elderly are perceived, people now go on about how people are living longer and therefore increasing the cost to the NHS. Perhaps people need to start talking about our elderly who have worked hard all their lives in much less lugubrious surroundings and circumstances, with far less opportunities, and yet seem to be ignored and undervalued by the younger generations."

Lynda Cooper