EVERYONE is welcome at a new exercise and wellbeing club in Watford, run by home care provider Walfinch – and it’s free of charge.
The Walfinch Thrive Club at St Mary’s Church was opened by Saumya Mishra, owner of the recently launched Watford and Hemel Hempstead franchise, with guests Peter Taylor, the Mayor of Watford, and Parveen Rani, former Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere.
Saumya said: “We are offering seated exercise classes led by local mobility specialist Georgina-Kate Laird, who is already well-known for her activities classes at dementia clubs and memory cafes.”
The sessions will run every second Monday in the month from 11.30am to 12.30pm and are open to everyone, including people who receive care, their friends, relatives and carers, and anyone in the area.
“They will also offer refreshments and a chance to meet others – important in maintaining health and wellbeing, especially in later life,” added Saumya.
Anyone who books an hour or more of care is offered at least 10 minutes of activity, which can be anything from gardening, joining in with their carer to do home exercise videos made by Walfinch chief executive Amrit Dhaliwal, or getting out to local social venues.
Saumya balances her Walfinch home care business around her wider entrepreneurial commitments, while also being a mother of two.
“You can combine business and family,” she said. “It teaches you resilience, patience, time management and how to prioritise – useful in any business, but especially care.”
Her business expertise combines with the care skills of her Registered Manager Lois Buckles, who has more than 20 years of experience in health and social care, plus specialist expertise in dementia and end-of-life care, medication and moving and handling, and is a certified care staff trainer.
Saumya decided to add a care business based on her experience as a care volunteer.
She added: “Volunteering showed me that care is very satisfying work. I find care is stress-busting. Older people tell you stories about their lives and when you say something is new to you, they break into big smiles.
“In just a couple of months of real-life experience with clients I have seen good results before my eyes.”
Registered manager Lois Buckles is pictured with Peter Taylor, the Mayor of Watford, and Saumya Mishra, owner of Walfinch home care Watford and Hemel Hempstead.