Local not-for-profit organization, MercyCare, is shining a spotlight on a volunteer program supporting elderly readers ahead of state-wide Seniors Week celebrations.
Five staff members from the Catholic Library of Western Australia have established the personalised book delivery service and volunteer fortnightly to supply fresh reading material to avid readers at MercyCare’s residential aged care facility in Wembley.
The volunteers take the time to learn about residents’ personal interests and hobbies, and then carefully select books aligned to residents’ interests that they will enjoy.
Catholic Library of Western Australia Manager Vicki Tkacz said the personalised book delivery program provided an opportunity for her team to have meaningful interactions with MercyCare residents.
“Books are great because they’re a platform for opening up wonderful conversations with the residents, so it’s very rewarding for our staff as well.”
MercyCare Chief Executive Officer Chris Hall said the program was introduced as a six-month pilot in August and has proven so popular that MercyCare hoped to continue the program in 2016.
“Seniors Week is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions of older people and help enhance community connections. We’ve found the personalised book delivery service is a great way to ensure our aged care residents continue to have a way to enjoy the things they’ve always loved doing,” he said.
“The book delivery service is socially beneficial for our residents because the residents are able to really connect with the volunteers they meet each fortnight, to form friendships and have a chat about their common interests through the books they are reading.”
MercyCare resident Kathleen Ridgewell has been part of the delivery service since it began. She has enjoyed reading books about Ireland, which have allowed her to learn about the homeland of her Irish friends.
“The books are great and it’s nice meeting the volunteers who bring them,” she said.
MercyCare is a leading Catholic provider of aged care, family, health and community services. MercyCare employs over 700 staff and 150 volunteers, delivering services from more than 30 locations throughout Western Australia.