Eric’s Story

Eric is in his 90s. As a proud and independent man, he had always taken care of himself. But as his health began to decline, his daughter and son were finding it increasingly difficult to support his growing care needs.

Eric wasn’t mentally ready to leave his home, a place where he felt safe and surrounded by memories. He didn’t want to accept care either, but his situation was becoming harder, and the family were reaching breaking point. So, they turned to The Kitchen Companions as a last resort before committing to residential care, hoping we could offer a way forward without taking Eric away from his home.

One of Eric’s favourite pastimes was his daily walk to the nearby station to watch the trains go by - a simple joy that gave rhythm and purpose to his days. But he no longer had the strength to go, and the isolation was beginning to impact both his physical and mental health.

With just a few weeks of weekday visits from The Kitchen Companions team, things began to shift. Eric slowly regained the strength to take up his daily walk again. Increasing his mobility and improving his mental health. He started smiling more. Talking more. Looking forward to the day.

Over the next two years, we provided him with a hot meal every day, but more than that, we brought the companionship he so desperately wanted. We helped with odd jobs that can become overwhelming when you’re older, like changing the florescent tube lightbulbs in his kitchen (fall hazard), fixing a leak above his front door (slip hazard) and when he was concerned about running out of Ventolin (and with his consent) we were able to help him receive a repeat order from the pharmacy.

For Eric’s family, the knock-on effect was just as meaningful. They were no longer carrying al the worry alone. Knowing someone was visiting their father each day, and having the confidence that any serious concerns would be raised by our companions gave comfort and reassurance.

Recently, Eric made a big decision to go into a residential care home. Last month he had a trial, returned home for a couple of weeks but decided he wanted to go back permanently. We are so proud that we were able to support him until he was ready to make the decision for himself, on his terms and in his time.