From a £750 Donation to a Friendship That Feels Like Family: Weekly Calls Transform Life for 89-Year-Old Care Home Resident in Nelson, Lancashire

A weekly video call between an 89-year-old care home resident in Lancashire and a volunteer who now describes him as “a friend who feels like family” is highlighting the lasting power of human connection.

Albert, who lives at Nelson Manor Care Home in Nelson, part of Caring UK, has been matched through the Adopt a Grandparent programme with Elaine Kendall, Head of Sustainability and Communications at Kori Construction. Since being paired, the two have built a close friendship through regular Friday video calls, each lasting around an hour.

What began as a simple match has become something far more meaningful.

For Albert, the calls have brought comfort, companionship and something special to look forward to every week. For Elaine, they have become one of the most valued and protected parts of her diary.

Albert said: “I am 89 years old, and I cannot speak highly enough of Adopt a Grandparent. Since being matched with Elaine, I have something special to look forward to every Friday. We speak over the laptop and use the camera so we can see each other, which makes it feel much more personal and friendly.

“I really enjoy telling Elaine about what I have been doing during the week, and she always listens with such kindness and interest. Our conversations brighten my day and give me something positive to think about. It is wonderful to have someone to share stories with, have a laugh, and feel connected.

“This experience has brought me great comfort and happiness, and I am very grateful to be part of it. I would highly recommend Adopt a Grandparent to anyone, as it truly makes a difference and brings people together in a meaningful way.”

Their conversations are shaped by a shared love of travel, cricket and football, but the real value lies in the consistency of the relationship itself. Week by week, the friendship has grown stronger, creating a sense of trust, familiarity and joy that stretches far beyond the screen.

Elaine said: “My weekly video calls with Albert have fast become one of the most meaningful parts of my week, and the part of my diary I protect most fiercely.

“For 60 minutes each week Albert and I talk about our lives, our mutual love of travel, cricket and football, and share stories.

“I have gained so much from the calls, which have given me the chance to slow down, listen and learn from Albert’s experiences, humour and perspective. I love hearing about his memories and the lessons he’s picked up over the years. It’s taught me things I know I’ll carry forever and has left me with a friend who feels like family.

“What I enjoy most is the mutual exchange, knowing that our conversations brighten his week as much as they brighten mine. It’s incredibly rewarding to feel that something as simple as showing up consistently and sharing a conversation can create such a positive impact for both of us, and I’m blessed to have Albert as a friend.”

The story carries an added layer of significance because Kori Construction, through the Kori Community Fund, awarded Adopt a Grandparent a £750 donation last year, enough to support Albert and Elaine’s calls for three years.

That means a single act of corporate giving has become something tangible and deeply human: not just funding a programme, but helping sustain a real friendship.

Adopt a Grandparent, founded in 2019, matches care home residents with volunteers for weekly one-to-one video calls based on shared interests, life experiences and personality. The programme is fully safeguarded and designed to reduce loneliness through genuine, lasting companionship.

Albert and Elaine’s story is a reminder that the most meaningful support is often the simplest: time, kindness and someone who keeps showing up.