Roar jumps feet first into caring
Service is up and running again
A vital service for older adults is back up and running after lockdown – and looking for more volunteers.
Roar’s popular footcare service, like so many of its services, had to be cancelled during lockdown.
Volunteers ran an athome service for a few months but now Roar Do Feet is back with 12 clinics running across eight venues in Renfrewshire.
Adults make appointments to have their toenails cut and any other feet issues seen to by fullytrained foot technicians.
But Clare Robertson, Roar’s Stay Mobile Stay Connected coordinator, who manages the service, said it’s about more than just cutting toenails.
“We do toenail trimming and hard skin removal,” she said. “But we also listen and that’s the most important thing sometimes.
“We can pass information on to the relevant people. We might notice people are struggling to get out their chair or becoming forgetful.
“It’s a holistic service. We listen to what’s going on in people’s lives and see if there’s any help we can get for them.”
She added: “We started back in April and it’s been so nice to see the difference it’s made. People have been struggling to get outside, their confidence has maybe gone and they haven’t been
able to do their toenails themselves.”
Clare said cutting toenails can have a big impact on preventing falls and keeping older adults active.
Roar began its service in 2015 when the NHS stopped doing toenail clipping. And for the folk who come every eight weeks, it’s a great service.
Janet Boyd, 88, from Paisley said: “I’ve been coming for quite a few years now, it’s definitely worth it.
“I can’t bend down to cut my own toenails so they do it. It’s a very valuable service. Everyone is all so cheery and nice to me and don’t mind listening to me.”
Leslie Moodie, 90, has been attending for three years. He said: “It’s important to come. I can’t reach down to cut my own toenails and they get too long.
“My daughter brings me, it’s all done so well.
“It’s nice to be able to come back to the clinic.”
Across the 12 clinics, the team of seven foot technicians treat 224 people every month.
Many are volunteers but they can be paid for the work if they choose to once they’re trained. Clare said they’re keen to hear from more people who’d be interested in helping out.
“It’s fun,” said Clare. “There is a social aspect to it and also the physical touch for people.
“It’s all about making a difference and you can see that straight away. People come in struggling with their toenails and once they’re finished they feel better.
“We’ve got a really good team here, it has to be rewarding for the volunteers as well.”
The cost is £12 per cut but Clare said they’re keen to make sure no one misses out so anyone on pension credit can receive it free for a year thanks to funders.
Alison McIntyre has volunteered for the last three years with the service. She’s enjoyed it so much she completed various courses and now runs her own footcare business in Glasgow alongside volunteering for Roar.
She said: “I was working in care for adult support and decided I wanted a change of career.
“I noticed a lot of service users, their feet were a mess and it got me interested. I found Roar were looking for foot technicians and completed the training which was really good.
“I’ve met all sorts of different people, Roar is such a good organisation to volunteer for, they’re very supportive.
“It’s very rewarding plus you’re learning a good life skill.”
Former nurse Noeleen Elliott started volunteering with Roar’s lunch clubs then the exercise classes and is now a fully- trained foot technician.
“I really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s such a great team.
“People come in and their feet are bothering them and they always feel so much better when they leave. It’s such a worthwhile service because footcare is so important.”
• Anyone interested in volunteering or signing up for the footcare service can go online at www.roarforlife.org or phone the office on 0141 889 7481.