Over the summer, you may be thinking about going on holiday but wondering what to do about your elderly parents who need care. Plenty of people pop in every day or just once or twice a week to check in on their parents or take them food shopping. They may worry about what will happen when they go on holiday and may feel they are abandoning them.
That is where we can step in. We often help people with temporary care or respite and this can mean everything from simple
companionship to taking your elderly relatives to the shop and helping them put their shopping away to personal care. It can mean everything from several visits a day to once a day to once or twice a week depending on need.
If you’re going on holiday and need support, we can be the eyes and ears and support your elderly relatives need while you are away, all in their own homes. It’s peace of mind, you can relax knowing your elderly relative is getting the best care they deserve.
Getting temporary care can also be a way to open the conversation with relatives who may be resistant to care generally. We often find sons or daughters come to us saying their mum or dad needs care but refuses to accept it. Having it on a short-term basis for a couple of weeks can be a way to show them that it’s not as bad as they think. Our carers are friendly and helpful and often once the elderly person sees first-hand the benefits they bring, they are more accepting.
We also offer respite care more generally and not just during the holidays. We have clients who just need a few weeks of help. We also provide hospital-to-home care, for example, if someone breaks their hip and is otherwise healthy but just needs six to eight weeks of support while they get back on their feet. We also do hospital assessments and look at their home to check if it’s what it needs to be when they get out.
And it’s not just the elderly; we support anyone who needs quality at-home care. And we try to be as flexible as possible. For example, we recently had one lady visiting the north from the south for work and she is bringing her parent with her to stay in a hotel. While they’re here, we’ll be visiting the hotel daily to give any support needed to her elderly relative.
I know how it feels to need help. Several years ago, I went through the rigmarole that many my age face when I had to look for care for my grandfather. When I investigated care providers, I was appalled at the standard of service and poor communication that seemed to be widespread. I decided that I wanted to do it better so, I set up my own company, West Park Care in Harrogate and Ilkley. Now I can offer support to our clients who want quality care for their nearest and dearest to allow them to live in their own homes, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.
Do you need an extra pair of hands with your elderly relatives this summer? If so, get in touch.
