Local care home team welcomes well-loved resident volunteer

Local care home resident Roy Palmers, 46, has selflessly taken on a new role as Resident Volunteer at Havering Court Bupa Care Home, hoping to help the team to continue to spread joy to his fellow residents and staff members.

As a resident at Havering Court, Roy saw the honourable work that the care home team were doing and wanted to lend a hand, assisting them with their extensive extra-curricular events and activities – from weekly quizzes to virtual cruises.

Roy’s role as a volunteer also includes taking part in greeting and guiding visitors to the care home and creating a comfortable outside space for residents to enjoy when weather permits. A well-loved resident at Havering Court, Roy has had a notable spring in his step in taking on his new role.

When asked how he feels about his new role, Roy commented: “I am so pleased to have taken on this new role as Resident Volunteer. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to get stuck in helping out with the activities. I think my favourite job is greeting visitors and showing them where to go, I have always loved meeting new people.”

Fellow resident, Clive Hems, 55 commented: “I am paralysed from the neck down and Roy is my hands. He helps me drink, calling for the care staff and turns my TV on and off for me. He is an incredibly kind man and great to have a chat with.”

When asked about Roy, resident Davinder Mayhey, 38 commented: “I am a young man facing ongoing surgeries, and I would be a very lonely man without Roy as a companion, he’s always keen to keep me company and is a real asset to Havering Court.”

Home Manager, Caroline Stoner commented: “It is great to have Roy volunteering for Havering Court, he is helpful and kind to everyone who comes in and out of the care home. He brightens up all our days and his enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities makes a huge difference when delivering the activities for other residents. Most recently, he dressed up for the virtual cruise, bringing a smile to all of our faces.”

Roy was born and grew up in Dagenham, and has been a resident at Havering Court since 2017, taking on his new role in August 2022 after showing a keenness to be involved in hosting activities for his fellow residents at Havering Court.