After 38 years of working at Royal Freemasons Springtime Residential Aged Care community as a personal care and laundry assistant, Annette Cracknell simply couldn’t say goodbye to the residents she had cared for and supported for so many years — so she stayed on as a volunteer after her retirement.
“I just love the Springtime community,” says Annette. “I’ve been working at the home for so long that I’m really just part of the furniture.”
Annette has been volunteering for two years now and visits the home every week to check in and see how the residents are. She works her way around the home, chatting to everyone and always makes a special visit to the memory support unit where she has close friendships with a number of residents there.
“Usually, I talk to them or take them for a walk and help with lunch. I just spend time listening to them,” says Annette.
All the residents know and love Annette and look forward to her visits. Springtime is like home to her and, being a longstanding staff member and familiar face, her presence makes the place feel even more like home to them.
“I think they are comforted by me being there and visiting regularly,” she says. “When I retired, I missed that connection with the residents; I missed talking to them.”
Each day she visits Springtime, Annette leaves with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that she has brightened the residents’ day — and that’s her greatest reward.
“The satisfaction I get when I’m here helping people makes me feel good, and I think it helps them as well.”
Annette has no plans to stop visiting — she intends to volunteer for a long time to come and be an extra support person and friend to those residents who need someone to talk to.
“I think it’s Important for people in the community to give company and comfort to residents,” she says. “Just the thought of no one visiting them really saddens me, and I plan on continuing my volunteering for as long as I can.”
If you would like to join our wonderful volunteer team and make a meaningful difference to the people in our care, visit: royalfreemasons.org.au/volunteer
