Appeal for help to give carers respite

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 08:58

VOLUNTEERS to spend time with adults with learning disabilities or the elderly are being sought by the council.

It needs people to help provide overnight respite for families, spend a few hours with service users and even take group sessions.

Already there are 90 short break carers and volunteer befrienders, but it is understood another 35 are needed to help meet the growing demand.

With an increasing elderly population and more adults living longer with learning disabilities, respite is increasingly seen as a good way to give family carers a break and help offer diversity to a client's life.

Council chiefs also see it as an important part of caring for people in the community and giving people with learning disabilities as good a quality of life as possible.

Health and social care leader Councillor Paul Edie said: "Even a small commitment can have a lasting effect, and because of the nature of the community short breaks you can offer as much time as you can spare. You can also say which days suit you best.

"Community short breaks provide a valuable and much-needed service to people across the city."

For more information phone [phone] or email [e-mail].