Evergreens Care Home Launches Resident-Led Village Store Thanks to Staff Initiative

Residents at The Evergreens Care Home are enjoying a new level of independence and community spirit, thanks to the transformation of a former COVID-19 visiting station into a fully functioning village store.

The initiative, led by Senior Care Assistant Kelly Gibson, has already made a significant impact. Kelly spearheaded fundraising efforts to stock the shop with essential toiletries and treats based on residents’ personal preferences. This means residents now have the freedom to shop for their own items, rather than relying on care staff to make purchases on their behalf.

In addition to toiletries, the store offers a selection of snacks and drinks, all available at cost price for residents. Staff and visitors are also welcome to make purchases, with a small added fee treated as a donation to the home’s comfort fund.

The shop is already expanding. Shelving is being installed to accommodate a range of traditional sweets, which will be weighed out using vintage-style scales to give residents a nostalgic and authentic shopping experience.

Plans are also underway to introduce a range of greeting cards, allowing residents to buy cards for special occasions and send them using the home’s in-house post box. Staff will then ensure the cards are posted on their behalf, supporting residents in staying connected with loved ones.

The village store officially opened during The Evergreens’ Easter Fair and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from residents, families, and staff. Building on this success, the home has now received approval to install power in the shop space. This will allow for the development of a small coffee shop serving drinks and homemade cakes on the care home’s spacious patio.

As part of the expansion, residents will be encouraged to take part in baking as a group activity, with their creations served in the garden café – further fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

The Evergreens Care Home continues to look for new ways to enrich the lives of its residents – and with the success of the new village store, it’s clear that even small ideas can lead to big, positive changes.