My job is important, but it's also good fun

Marguerite Coan has been a Home Support Worker for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin for almost 10 years now. We caught up with her as she visited one of her clients, Iain, who lives in a quiet Shrewsbury cul-de-sac.

‘We have a really good laugh, don’t we, Iain? Basically, I sit here and he entertains me with all his stories. If he has any ironing to do, he orders me about with the ironing board and tells me I’m not doing it right!’

‘The truth is,’ says Iain, conspiratorially, ‘She comes here and moves everything about and when she leaves after two hours, I go round to put everything back where it should be.’ They both laugh.

‘When I first started coming here, Iain had had a nasty fall and had spent time in hospital,’ says Marguerite. ‘But through his strength and determination, he’s come round. And his sense of humour never ceases to amaze me. I feel this job is an important one, but it’s also good fun.’

Iain, 81, soft-spoken and thoughtful, sits in his favourite armchair, telephone and notebook at his side. In his light grey pullover, burgundy trousers and brown slippers, he is relaxed and happy, trading jokes with Marguerite.

So, what’s Iain’s take on the service provided by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin?

‘Wonderful,’ he says. ‘Yes, we enjoy a joke. But in all seriousness, Marguerite does a great job, and I always look forward to her visits.’

The Help at Home scheme supports older people to maintain their independence by providing practical assistance, and right now we’re looking to recruit more Home Support Workers in a number of Shropshire locations including:

• Ludlow
• Church Stretton
• Craven Arms
• Wem
• Whitchurch
• Oswestry.

Home Support Workers carry out everyday tasks that an older person may find difficult to manage. These might include:

• vacuuming and dusting
• bathroom and kitchen cleaning
• shopping and collecting prescriptions
• laundry and ironing.

If you’d like to become a Home Support Worker call our Help at Home team on 01743 233 788 or email helpathome@ageukstw.org.uk for more information.