Reading group brings joy with stories
By MELANIE VERRAN - East And Bays Courier
A GOOD DEED: Judith Heinstman reads to a group of residents at the Edmund Hillary Retirement Village.
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Losing the ability to read is hard to come to terms with for someone whoâs always been a bookworm.
But at the Edmund Hillary Retirement Village, a new reading group is coming to the rescue.
Greenlane resident Mark Hornblow needed a project for his Toastmasters group and the idea of a reading group appealed.
He got in touch with Joan Haines, a resident at the village in Ellerslie, who in turn approached the village co-odinator for approval.
"It just took off straight away," Mr Hornblow says.
The group of about 20 have fortnightly meetings in which four or five people do prepared readings and the group offers feedback.
"That practice gives them confidence and from there they begin to look for opportunities to read to people in the village," Mr Hornblow says.
"It’s turning out people who are a resource to the community."
He says the service now means everyone in the village who wants to be read to, can be.
"They’re virtually fighting to read to people, which is wonderful."
Group member Judith Heinstman reads to residents in the serviced apartments once a week. Other members visit people in the hospital or resthome.
Resident Newton ‘Wicky’ Wickham, who suffers macular degeneration, says his sight deteriorated to the point where he could no longer read about a year ago.
He now enjoys being read to.
"I can’t hear very well but I like to watch the lips," he says.
Ms Haines says residents are grateful for both the company and the mental stimulation.
"Most of them have always loved reading and then all of a sudden their eyes start failing, they can’t hold a book properly or things like that and they can’t read anymore.
"Talking books are one thing but it’s the visit that matters most to them."
