A freelance community consultant has organised friendship lunches featuring music and entertainers to tackle loneliness and social isolation among the elderly.
Kathy Markwick, 69, from Deepcar, left her job at HSBC in 2014 to set up ‘Music Makes Memories’ lunches, after noticing the number of socially isolated senior citizens in South Yorkshire.
Mrs Markwick said: “The events have had a massive impact because we all know, following COVID, what loneliness and social isolation can do for your mental health and well being.
“They give people something to look forward to and get dressed up for.”
Attendees receive live entertainment to accompany either a Carvery lunch or a two-course set meal.
All the lunches are dementia-friendly and targeted towards people over 50, however anyone can join because as Mrs Markwick pointed out – ‘you don’t have to be elderly to be lonely’.
Regular attendee Betty Tynan, 82, from Norfolk Park, describes the experience as ‘magic’. She also said that they give her ‘a new life’.
Mrs Tynan lost her husband seven years ago. Since attending ‘Music Makes Memories’ she has felt more connected to the community.
She said: “It does get you through it all. You need company. You need people your own age, and you need people that are going through the same thing at the same time.”
The first lunch was in 2016 at the Toby Carvery in Dodworth. Following its success, Mrs Markwick, has now expanded her events across both South and West Yorkshire.
Last year, Joyce Goodison, from Woodhouse Mill celebrated her 95th birthday at the Toby Carvery.
Mrs Goodison said: “When anybody celebrates their birthday with the group, they make you feel very, very welcomed.”
She was given flowers, a cake and received special performance by classic pop singer Oliver Harris.
Mr Harris, 32, from Barnsley, has been performing with his band at these events for three years. His impersonations of iconic artists including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Elton John are ‘musical medicine’ for the elderly as they ‘can bring back memories’.
Mrs Markwick will be launching a new location of the DoubleTree Hilton at Meadowhead on 19 March 2025.
For more information on ‘Music Makes Memories’, you can contact her on 07729528844 or email kathymarkwick@gmail.com.
