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Kym Paddon Care Manager at Northernhay Social Centre
Kym Paddon has worked at Northernhay (Townstal Pathfields) for 27 years. Once a residential home, it’s now a social centre for day visitors. She calls it a ‘home from home’ not just for her but the various elderly folk who regularly visit for a cup of tea, a chat and an extra hot vindaloo! Steph Woolvin went to meet her.
“I
t’s a bit like the school run but at the other end of the scale,” says Kym. “Carers, daughters and sons drop their mums and dads off in the morning from 8am, go to work and pick them up again on their way home at 6pm.” It’s clear she’s very fond of the place and the people. she welcomes them one-by-one like friends; cracking a joke, asking how their various ailments are and offering up a cosy chair and a cup of tea. “There are quite a few similarities between these lovely people and children actually. They need love, a routine and clear instructions!” she says through a cheeky smile. Kym started her career in Paignton; “I used to get £17.50 a week on a Youth Training scheme in a nursery. I would give my mum £10 and spend the rest of my earnings in the pub on a sunday afternoon.” Then she worked as a teaching assistant at Tower House school. But the pay wasn’t brilliant and, in need of a mortgage, she took on extra work in the school holidays - looking after the daughter of the owners of northernhay; “I spent my summers in this place with little Bex. After awhile her parents asked if I wanted to work here full time. I took a good few weeks to think about it as it was a rather bold move but I thought ‘I know the place, I know the people, let’s go for it’.” Kym doesn’t have far to come to work each morning as she lives in Mayflower Close. In fact she pops in at 6am each day to pick up sally, the work dog and take her for a walk to see the sunrise. When the ladies and gentlemen have arrived and got themselves settled they read and have a natter - catching up on each other’s news.
“The days are
very long if you’re lonely, we have tried to build a community within a community here. We all eat together, chat together and play together!
Then, at pretty much bang on midday, they are treated to a two-course lunch with a tipple of their choice! “It’s not cabbage and stew here,” Kym is clear to point out, “our fantastic chef Judi, our very own Girl Friday, does pretty much anything the guests ask for – a fry up, a hot vindaloo with all the accompaniments – you name it she’ll cook it.” The cuisine is so good it often tempts delivery drivers who say; “it smells lovely in here, can we stay for lunch’!” In the afternoon most guests take part in an activity put on by Kym and her team of helpers. They often do a crossword together, although Kym says that’s not always easy; “we do have to phone a friend sometimes and thank goodness for the internet is all I can say!” They also have manicures, games, quizzes, and look forward to the Dartmouth Chronicle coming out on a Friday. The most read page apparently, is the Family Announcements or ‘hatched, matched and dispatched’ as they like to call it. “They’re fascinated to hear who has passed this week and are very matter of fact saying ‘there’s another one to cross off my Christmas card list!’” everyday Kym reads them a newspaper from cover to cover; “it’s good to keep them abreast of current issues, you would be surprised what lively debates we all have. They had some strong views on the eu referendum I can tell you!” Kym says all these things make life
worth living for the elderly people who could otherwise be sitting at home doing nothing; “The days are very long if you’re lonely, we have tried to build a community within a community here. We all eat together, chat together and play together!
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