Expansion plan hope for respite carers

Day respite, at places like Leuchie House, gives people with long-term conditions and their carers a regular break. Picture: Julie Bull

I have worked at Leuchie House since I was 16, when it was run as a respite care centre by nuns who looked after people primarily with MS. I lived in as a care assistant and I actually met my husband here – he proposed to me in a puddle outside the dining room window!

Over the 30-odd years since, I have seen many changes, but the vital need for day respite is one thing that has not changed. In fact, it is becoming even more important as more people are living longer with long-term conditions.

Day respite gives people with long-term conditions and their carers a regular weekly break from the day-to-day reality of coping with complex care needs. There is no question that many of the people who come to the day respite sessions and their carers would find it almost impossible to carry on without the service, which would lead to more people taking up hospital beds and places in residential homes.

This is also important when it comes to the carers we see on a weekly basis. We are able to build up a relationship with them over time, giving us an opportunity to look after them as well as the guest and help them to stay well enough to keep caring for longer.

This desperate need has been recognised at Leuchie, with the service being increased from three days to four to keep up with demand since Leuchie was relaunched as an independent charity three years ago.

Day respite guests can join in with the physiotherapy and activities laid on for people staying for longer respite breaks here and we can also take the day respite guests on trips. Many of them may rely on a partner or family member for care at home and it can be too restrictive for them to get out and about in their own transport so they appreciate the accessible vehicles here.

The most important factor for me is that everything we do in the day respite sessions is tailored to the individual guests. One of the regular guests, Sheila, recently just wanted to go out shopping so I took her on a shopping trip and we had such a great time. When we came back, the smile on her face was out of this world.

It is a very sociable atmosphere as the guests all get to know each other. Sheila, who comes twice a week, said she enjoys coming to meet up with all the other folk in the session, as well as knowing her partner can look forward to a regular break from caring for her.

Another guest, Angus, said it breaks up his week when he knows he has day respite to look forward to and he particularly enjoys the physiotherapy sessions which are offered to all the day respite guests.

The day respite guests join longer-term guests for a home-cooked lunch and there are various activities laid on during the day which are tailored to the guests’ preferences. But even just chatting to other guests can make all the difference in the world to people who may have lost much of their independence as their condition deteriorates.

Sally-Ann helps out in day respite and we both like the fact that it is such a relaxed environment, where we have plenty of time to talk with the guests and find out their preferences. That can range from people who just want to have a chat about what’s in that day’s paper to people wanting to go to their favourite museum or gallery. We try and accommodate guests’ wishes wherever possible.

We see guests with a variety of different condition, including MS, stroke, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone Disease and cerebral palsy and we are used to dealing with guests at different stages of mobility.

While guests are here for the day, they also have a chance to chat to staff about any problems they may be experiencing, such as obtaining funding for respite breaks, and we can advise them or point them in the right direction for help.

My aim is that as many people as possible know we are here so that we can eventually expand the service to five days a week and help all the people with long-term conditions in East Lothian and further afield who need a break.

• Liz Smith is day respite co-ordinator at Leuchie House www.leuchiehouse.org.uk