Care goes both ways: How support is a shared journey

I wanted to share a recent story of how a simple act of kindness can make a big impact.

Joe Coffin, who you may have just read about in our Valentine’s Day blog, has been with Sense for many years.

He is 57 (like me!) and lives in a Sense-supported living accommodation in Birmingham and volunteers every week at the reception desk at Sense TouchBase Pears.

We have known each other for many years, and Joe usually contacts a member of our practice team when he wants to talk about something important to him. Joe always asks about people and their families, and he has an amazing memory for a wide range of information.

A couple of weeks ago Joe phoned and emailed me to say he wanted to see me. I presumed it was to support him with something, so I arranged to visit him at home.

When I went round to his flat, he made me a cup of tea and then, to my great surprise, presented me with a mini-cake and started singing “Happy birthday to you”.

He then went on to say, “I know you might not get a cake this year, Jo, because Neil has gone.”

He had remembered that Neil, my husband, died last December, and he just wanted me to have a happy birthday.

I felt this was particularly important to share, in order to highlight that support is not a one-way process; it is reciprocal. Yes, he receives social care, but Joe cares too.

That day, he showed real kindness, and I was the one receiving care and support from him, not the other way round. He got such a lot out of keeping a little secret and just being thoughtful, generous and considerate.

I am, like all of us are, privileged to spend time with some amazing people and together, we can make the world a better place.

Thank you to Joe for such kindness. I am so very touched and feel very lucky.

I think we should all “be more Joe!!!”