Care home appeals for help so resident can achieve life-long dream to read and write

A care home in Hartlepool is appealing for a voluntary adult literacy tutor to teach one of its residents to read and write.

Evelyn, aged 76, who has lived at Queen Meadow care home in Stockton Road since 2012, never had the opportunities or resources to learn these skills as a child and in later life dedicated her time to supporting her family. She also became embarrassed about her position and so found it difficult to express her desire to learn literacy, according to the care home.

But last year Evelyn finally raised the courage to ask for help so that she could realise her dream. She said: “I never found the time to learn to read and write and often felt too proud to look for help. I have decided it’s now or never and have made it my New Year’s resolution to learn in 2015.

“I am determined to achieve this ambition, but would love to get the support of a tutor to make this possible.”

Staff at the care home are urging retired teachers, tutors or any one with time available to help Evelyn master reading and put pen to paper for the very first time.

Liz Jones, customer relations officer at Hill Care, which runs the home, said: “We really hope that someone is able to come forward to help Evelyn, who has waited a life-time for this opportunity.

“The individual would need to come to the home for a few hours each week to teach, where we would provide any resources that were required. It’s hard to put into words what this would mean to Evelyn and, in turn, what it would mean to us.”

Queens Meadow care home has 26 residential care bedrooms and a dedicated 33 bed dementia care unit. It gives all residents an individualised care plan which is devised with input from the resident and the family.

If you are able to support the home with their request please contact Queens Meadow on 01429 267424 or email Liz Jones at Liz.Jones@hillcare.net