In this episode of the Care CEO Success Stories podcast, Adam James talks with Shaleeza Hasham, Director of CHD Living and CEO/Founder of the Adopt A Grandparent charity.
Shaleeza shares her inspiring journey, detailing the origin of her family’s care business and the creation of Adopt A Grandparent which combats loneliness by connecting volunteers with older adults.
In the episode Shaleeza:
- Recounts her family’s immigrant journey to the UK, highlighting how her parents, refugees in the late ’70s, established a care business, CHD Living, driven by a desire to give back to the community. This led to the conversion of a training centre into a 15-bed nursing home.
- Explains how growing up in the nursing home “instilled values of patience and respect” for older people.
- After pursuing education and work outside the care sector, Shaleeza returned to social care due to her passion for it.
- Describes jow “Adopt a Grandparent” initially started as a local initiative in 2019, inviting young people to spend meaningful time with those in care.
- The concept gained traction, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown prompted a shift to virtual interactions, resulting in a “remarkable” response of over 40,000 volunteers.
- Driven by the alarming statistic that 23% of older people face premature death due to loneliness, the charity garnered international attention.
- Over 100,000 volunteers worldwide have registered, emphasising the “widespread impact and the diverse motivations” of participants, ranging from those without grandparents to individuals seeking to combat their own loneliness.
- Discusses the challenges faced in managing and expanding the program, emphasising the need for care providers to “commit to safeguarding participants,” and how a mandatory training program for volunteers ensures “effective communication” with people living with dementia and an understanding of adult safeguarding.
- Acknowledges that, as CEO of CHD Living – a multi-site care operator – there is a difficulty in dividing her time. While her business projects take priority, her passion for Adopt A Grandparent “drives her to balance the demands of both roles.”
- Explains how the charity’s vision involves “growing its impact, developing technology for faster volunteer pairing, and establishing a champion role for each care group or region.,” and that the use of AI in pairing, akin to a dating app, aims to streamline the process.
- Describes, future aspirations for Adopt A Grandparent, include providing bursaries for vulnerable individuals and unpaid carers.
- Shares her insights into grant writing, highlighting the importance of learning and seeking advice in the charity sector.
- Care providers and potential sponsors can visit the charity’s website, adoptagrandparent.org.uk, to find information, and get in touch.