Joyce benefits from links to children through reading

 Joyce appeared on Steph's Packed Lunch today the Channel 4 lunchtime programme to talk about her experience of reading on a Saturday morning to three children. The children were accompanied by their mother as they met Joyce for the first time after reading to her over the phone on a Saturday morning. 

The link had been established via #https://silverstories.co.uk/. How wonderful for Joyce to build a relationship with the young people, but also to have confirmation from their mother that all three children had improved their reading as a result of the activity.

One of the children had written a poem to describe the important part that Joyce plays in their lives. Through the telephone calls Joyce has become familiar not just with the children but also with their wider family. She encouraged other elderly people with the time to take part in the scheme.

Nettie has an adventure

 

“She has locked herself out AGAIN”.  Anne is glad she has Liz to talk to about Aunt Nettie.   Nettie’s short term memory is getting worse and there are constant problems with lost keys, forgotten pin numbers, missed appointments and burnt food.  “She left her key behind and then couldn’t remember the code to the outside key safe.   She went to the shop who tried to phone friend Rosie who has a spare key but she was out.   I was in a meeting all afternoon with my phone off and didn’t pickup the messages until on the train home so I came straight over to sort things out .  Its now 9pm, I’ve just got home and I’m knackered”.  “Poor old you.  How was she?” asked Liz. “Oh fine. Fortunately she hadn’t left anything cooking which was my great fear. She said she was glad to see me but I think she had had a great time. Spent all afternoon in the shop drinking cups of tea and gossiping with all her chums who came in to shop.  When the shop closed, she was taken to a neighbour who cooked her tea and when I arrived she was teaching their teenage boy to play gin rummy.”  “Wow what a great day – if she has any sense she will lock herself out again soon” says Liz.   “That’s what I am afraid of” replied Anne.