The benefits of day centres for the recently retired: Richard's story

Richard, aged 66, has been a regular at the ECL Loughton day centre since late 2023. He enjoys the various activities available, from games to socializing with the staff and fellow attendees. Richard's journey to ECL Loughton reflects the multifaceted benefits these centres provide, extending beyond recreational engagement.

 Before his retirement, Richard worked for Harlow Council as a street cleaning operative for nearly 20 years. He opted for early retirement to care for his late mother and to focus on his own health. His life before retirement was active, he was a keen darts player, loved to play pool - with many trophies to his name, an avid fisherman, and an amateur photographer.

 However, Richard’s diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly limited his physical activities, forcing him to give up many of his beloved hobbies. This marked a challenging transition, but attending the Loughton day centre has been a game-changer. It has provided Richard with a much-needed opportunity to socialize and engage in less physically demanding activities, ensuring that his health condition does not isolate him.

 Living with his brothers, who are out at work during the day, Richard found himself spending long hours alone at home. This prompted him to seek out the day service as a way to meet new people and stay active. Initially attending on Wednesdays, he is now looking into adding Fridays to his schedule.

 Richard first learned about the service through his social worker. He initially attended the ECL Harlow day centre but after a taster day at ECL Loughton, he decided to make the switch, as it was closer to his home in Epping. Transportation was a hurdle initially, with taxi fares becoming prohibitively expensive. However, the Loughton team assisted Richard in liaising with social services to arrange transportation, ensuring he could attend the centre without financial strain.

 Reflecting on his first day at the centre, Richard likened it to the first day of school or a new job, feeling understandably nervous. However, he quickly settled in, finding the staff friendly and making new friends among the other customers. Despite his health limitations, Richard continues to enjoy photography, capturing shots of nature and aircraft, which he shares with his new friends at the centre.

The positive impact of the day centre on Richard’s life is undeniable. He states that attending the centre has significantly improved his quality of life. He speaks highly of the staff, describing them as caring and supportive, even beyond the regular activities. They assisted him during his recovery after a recent hospital stay and have helped him with various personal matters.

 Richard’s testimonial is a powerful endorsement: “The team at the centre are great and very helpful. I’ve recently come out of hospital and they’ve really looked after me while at the centre as I recover. They go above and beyond really, helping me liaise with social services to get support with transport to the centre and with seeing if I can come two days a week. They even helped me sort out a problem with my gas supplier! To anyone thinking of attending a day centre, I’d say give it a try. You can do a taster day and see if it’s right for you. They’re a nice bunch at Loughton and I’ve also attended ECL Harlow day centre and they are really nice there too!”

 Oliver Mann, Lead Manager at ECL Loughton, affirms the centre's commitment to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment: “Richard is a well-loved member of our Loughton family. He settled in quickly. We have more male customers attending on Wednesdays, which has been good for him as he’s made friends. We have an ‘East End’-style bar in the centre and while there is a dart board, we’re unable to use it due to health and safety. We know Richard loves darts, so we are looking into getting a magnetic equivalent to replace it so he can set up his own ECL Loughton darts team!”

About ECL Day Centres

ECL operates a network of day centres across Essex, offering both on-site and community-based activities. These centres provide a ‘home from home’ environment that fosters friendship and community interaction, helping to reduce social isolation. The activities are designed to maintain independence and encourage greater connection with the community. For individuals living with conditions associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, ECL day centres offer a safe space with specially trained staff, providing much-needed respite for both the individuals and their loved ones.

The emphasis of ECL’s services is on creating relationships to prevent loneliness and isolation among older adults.

Interested in trying a taster day at one of ECL’s day centres? Visit https://www.ecl.org/free-trial-op

For more information about ECL’s day services for older people visit https://www.ecl.org/services/older-people-day-centres