News

Anna’s Experience as a Hearing Aid Maintenance Volunteer for Jewish Deaf Association

31st May 2024

Tell us a little about yourself…

I have lived in Childs Hill/Cricklewood for the past 16 years. I am now retired but when I worked, I was a specialist journalist, writing about manufacturing technology. These days, I have an allotment in Childs Hill and I play in The Barnet Band, so my life is very much centred around Barnet.

What inspired you to volunteer?

When my mum started wearing hearing aids in her old age, I helped to keep her hearing aids in good working order. Her carers at home were not trained to do this, nor in hospital nor in the care home where she ended her life. So, I realised there was a real need.

Tell us about your volunteering role…

I visit people, usually very elderly people, in their homes to sort out difficulties they are experiencing with their hearing aids, also to give advice. I also run a couple of regular drop-in clinics where people can pop in to get hearing aid problems sorted. I particularly enjoy spending time with elderly people, and it is very satisfying to be able to give them an improvement in their quality of life.

Anna has been volunteering with Jewish Deaf Association since 2018.

What has been the best thing about your volunteering experience?

The best thing is seeing the joy and relief on people’s faces when they can hear again.

It is really wonderful to be able to help people, particularly very elderly people who are likely to have so many health issues to contend with.

Can you sum up your experience in three words?

Enjoyable, Rewarding, Worthwhile