Ryelands Methodist Home for the Aged
Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) is a charity providing care homes,
housing and support services for over 12,500 older people throughout
Britain. MHA is not just for Methodists; about 50% of MHA residents are
Christian, of which about 50% are Methodists. Last year MHA celebrated
its 65th anniversary – and this was especially significant
for Ryelands, the home in Wallington, in our own church circuit, because
Ryelands was the very first MHA care home.
To meet changing needs and current standards, Ryelands was completely
rebuilt in 2004 to create a modern two-storey building in its own
grounds and which now provides three kinds of facility: residential care
in the part still called Ryelands; dementia care in the Brooklands wing;
and self-contained retirement flats in Moorlands.
Typical residents’ single rooms at Ryelands are larger than found in
many care homes, and include a kitchenette and en-suite shower room.
Social activities mainly take place in the ground-floor lounge, which
serves also as the chapel for mid-week and Sunday services. There is a
dining room, a music room and a craft room.
A new manager has recently been appointed and the senior team under her
reorganised. As well as the care staff, Ryelands has an activities
coordinator and also a chaplain.
Ryelands is not far away and if you would like to get involved in
supporting the home there are various ways of doing so. The Ryelands
Support Group, for which I am Epsom church’s representative, organises a
summer Fête and a Christmas Fair and raises funds to provide little
extras for the residents, such as hiring a minibus for an outing. You
can also leave small donations for the Support Group in the embroidered
‘penny pouch’ on the top left of the information display in the welcome
area of the church.
Ryelands’ chaplain, Elizabeth Fleischer, is setting up an organised
volunteer group. Applicants will need to undergo suitability checks and
will be properly trained in how to assist elderly residents with their
activities within or outside the home, such as accompanying them on
local shopping trips. If you would like to find out more, I can put you
in touch with Elizabeth. Separately, if you have a skill or interest
which you think you might contribute as one of the scheduled activities,
I can introduce you to the activities coordinator, Dawn Sleeman. There
is currently a shortage of musical assistance, such as for playing the
piano. I myself have visited to entertain the residents and to help
revive old memories by playing records from the 30s and 40s on my
collection of wind-up gramophones – and I even get asked back again!
Feel free to contact me about Ryelands
Martin Gunton
Methodist
Homes for the Aged - MHA care group
During
November 2006 Methodism will be celebrating the work of the MHA care
group. At EMC on Sunday 5th November 2006 we shall be joining
with other churches, throughout the country to give thanks to God for
the work of MHA and other similar organizations who care for elderly
people.
It was
in 1943 that a group of Methodists were inspired to improve the lives of
isolated and frail older people of all faiths and backgrounds. So MHA
was founded and for over 60 years the “people called Methodists” have
been the bedrock of its support allowing it to plan confidently for the
future care of older and vulnerable members of the society.
MHA
cares for and supports more than 6500 older people. There are about
sixty residential, nursing and specialist dementia care homes, together
with sheltered housing with some flats for sale. Live at home schemes
often operated by local churches allow people to be looked after in
their own homes. As a Christian based organization, MHA recognizes the
spiritual needs of those involved in their work, residents, volunteers
and staff alike.
Good
quality care is not cheap. MHA is rightly proud of its reputation for
excellence and innovation in the care of older people. Every charitable
gift helps them to continue to do the work and to expand to meet an ever
increasing need. The recently completed reconstruction of its very first
home, Ryelands in Wallington, is a fine example where specialist
dementia care, residential care and sheltered housing are available on
the same site.
This
year we are invited to consider the care and treatment of those
suffering from dementia under the heading Remember – Re-member. (Nothing
to do with gunpowder treason and plot!) Please be as generous as you can
on MHA Sunday. Envelopes will be in the pews for your Gifts. These can
be left in the offering plate or handed to me. Please complete the form
on the back of the envelope if you would like your contribution to
attract “Gift Aid”.
The
autumn edition of Heart and Soul will be distributed free of charge
after the morning services.
Thank
you for your support of the 1p pouch over the past year. Please leave
any small change you have available in the pouch on the shelf over the
pigeon holes. It is collected every week. Thank you.
Please
remember MHA in your prayers through out the year particularly its
clients, care staff, administrators and volunteers.
For more information on all aspects of MHA work go to
www.mha.org.uk/mhs
Bob
Knight
Methodist Homes for the Aged - Methodist Homes Care Group
MHA
started out in 1943, a group of Methodists inspired to improve the lives of
isolated older people of all faiths and backgrounds.
MHA
now supports and cares for more than 6500 older people. There are sixty
residential, nursing and specialist dementia care homes, together with sheltered
housing with some flats for sale and housing with care and services in the
community. Live at home schemes often operated by local churches allow people to
be looked after in their own homes. There is one at Redhill. As a Christian
based community MHA recognises the spiritual needs of all involved in their work
– residents, staff and volunteers alike. It is not just about formal religion,
but what gives continuing purpose, meaning and strength to people’s lives. MHA’s
Christian basis is not exclusive but seeks to offer care to those who most need
it regardless of faith.
Good
quality care is not cheap. MHA is proud of its high reputation for innovation
and excellence in the care of older people. Every charitable gift helps them to
continue to do the work and provide the extra things that make a difference.
During the past year the reconstruction of Ryelands at Wallington has been
completed and many other projects and schemes are underway.
This
year 2005 on MHA Sunday (6th Nov), under the banner “Sense and
Sensitivity” we are invited to reflect on the five senses and their importance
in the lives of older people, especially the role they play in helping us to
relate to our homes and environment. Please be as generous as you can on MHA
Sunday. The Methodist Church has been at the heart of this work since its
beginning and the support of local churches has allowed MHA to plan confidently
for the future.
Please
remember MHA in your prayers on the 6th and throughout the coming
year:-
Give
thanks for the contribution of older people to our church and community.
Pray
for those for whom aging brings particular difficulties and for those who are
carers.
Pray
for the staff, residents and volunteers in MHA homes, projects and offices
throughout the country.
Give
thanks for the contribution MHA makes to older peoples lives.
For
the latest news and information from MHA care group visit the website at:
http://www.mha.org.uk
Thank
you for your support of the 1p pouch over the past year. Please leave any small
change you have available in the pouch. It is collected every week. Last year
£40.00 was donated in this way.
Thank you.
Bob Knight
METHODIST HOMES FOR THE AGED
During November most of British Methodism will be celebrating the work of the
MHA. Care Group. At EMC on the 7th November we shall be joining with other churches in the circuit and district to give thanks to God for the work of
MHA. and all other similar organisations caring for elderly people.
MHA. is over 60 years old and for all that time the Methodist Church has been the bedrock of its support.
This has allowed
MHA. to plan confidently for the future care of older and more vulnerable members of our community.
A fine example is the work of partial demolition and reconstruction at Ryelands, Wallington.
This home, which is in our Circuit, was the very first home to be opened and, over the years, has undergone many alterations and extensions.
The current major scheme will enable it to provide the full range of care appropriate to people’s needs.
* Residential Care Homes
* Dementia and Nursing Homes
* Sheltered Housing Schemes
* Live at Home schemes
* Community Services.
This year’s theme is ‘Every Cloud has a Silver Lining’. We are invited to explore the place of older people in our church and community.
Please be as generous as you can on
MHA. Sunday. Envelopes will be in the pews for your gifts. These can be left with the offering or handed to me.
The envelopes allow you to ‘Gift Aid’ your contribution by completing the details on the back.
This year it is intended that money raised on
MHA. Sunday will be used locally. In our case this means the London South West and London South East Districts. The target is £20,000.
Shown below are examples of how
MHA. would like to use the money and some of the projects, which might be helped.
* Sensory garden equipment
* Live at home running costs
* Worship and Chaplaincy resources.
* Activities equipment
Projects covered
* Residential care in Bexhill on Sea, Croydon, Tankerton and Woking
* Residential and Dementia Care in Wallington (Ryelands)
* Live at home support in Reigate and Redhill
* Sheltered housing in Clapham and Fokestone
* Supported retirement housing in Pimlico.
Thank you for your prayers, generosity and support for all the Homes seek to do in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Autumn edition of ‘Heart and Soul’ will be available free of charge after the morning services.
Bob Knight.
