"Social prescribing helps me cope and help others"

I am a tenant of SYHA, I have a house. I have lived in Cantley for about 16 years. Our house in Hyde Park was pulled down and we moved. We were a family of 4 now I am on my own. When my husband was terminally ill  five year ago I had a lot of help from St Ledgers' Homes under their terminal health care arrangements, they did a number of adaptations around the house including the bathroom.  This helped me to care for him as I nursed him at home in the last few months of his life.  

My GP recommended me for Social Prescribing and through this contact I became a Social Prescribing volunteer myself.  I now go out with a Social Prescribing coordinator to visit potential clients referred by GPs. If the person wants to take part I visit them on a regular basis. On average I make three separate visits a week each of about an hour. Not only is the person who wants the service getting a benefit I am too because it helps me cope with my own loneliness and the continuing bereavement. 

I have enjoyed the training courses including one on helping people in bereavements and another on working with partially sighted  clients. I had a career in a caring professional and love to be able to continue to meet with people.