When family don't live nearby, or are working full time, my ad hoc 'as required' call outs and problem-solving services are really useful.
I help anyone who needs flexible support at home in the Morpeth area, and I specialise in helping people with dementia live as independently as possible.
Take a look at my website for more information on my services.
Ad Hoc Support
I call in, as and when required, to sort out any problems e.g. some recent examples from the last few weeks:
• checking if phone was on mute and putting the ringer back on so family could get in touch
• helping search for and find a missing bank card
• going round to provide support when a formal letter arrived that had caused upset + copying the letter to send to relative to sort out
• going to reception at the GP surgery to make an appointment when the client couldn't get through on the phone
• picking up and dropping off a urine sample at the GP
Problem Solving
I also help people make changes to improve their situation and stop problems happening again e.g:
• attaching bank card to wallet on a retractable cable
• putting a No Cold Callers sign up at door
• helping relative with POA get correspondence address changed at GP
• signposting and helping to set up technology solutions e.g. alexa, location trackers etc
• signposting local groups, activities and services to help people extend their social network and get more support
Now and again I post on my Facebook page with an update on the sort of things I've been doing that day or that week for my clients. To help you get a good overview of how I help my clients on a day to day basis, I've gathered together these posts in this blog.
Appointments
I got the bus into Newcastle for an appointment last week.
Seemed like a good idea so I didn't get stuck in rush hour traffic.
It's nice to have the choice.
Many of my clients need help to get to their appointments and that's part of my service.
Like most things I do, the help I give is different for every person.
It can include things like:
• Making appointments (and this can include calling in to see my client to discuss and coordinate diaries face to face, rather than on the phone, if this is preferred)
• Ringing up on their behalf, to ask questions and check on details.
• Helping them make a list of things they want to discuss.
• Arranging a callback from a GP by filling in an online form.
• Calling in to GP reception in person to make an urgent appointment when no-one picks the phone up.
• Providing a steady arm, getting them checked in and safely sat down.
• Coming in to the appointment with them, to help with communication and remembering follow-up instructions.
• Copying appointment letters to send to relatives.
• Collecting prescriptions.
• Arranging follow-up appointments.
Whatever is needed to make sure that my clients get to the appointments they need and everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Staying Local
I love working in Morpeth with lots of local clients. It means I can easily call in when I'm passing by, to see how they're doing, or stop and chat when I bump into them while I'm out and about.
I had a busy afternoon the other day, criss-crossing around Morpeth as I visited clients and headed out and about to do some jobs.
I started by calling in to pick a shopping list up from one client, and while I was there I rang the opticians for her to make an appointment for next week (making sure it was at a time I was free to take her).
On my way out of her building, I bumped into another client and stopped for a chat.
As I got to the car park another client spotted me and opened her window to ask if I could drop a sample off at the doctors.
After calling in to the doctors, my next stop was to a nearby client to see what food she needed, check the fridge and throw out anything out of date.
Then down into Morpeth with a couple of shopping lists to fill.
On my way back, I spotted another client, so I pulled over to say hello and offer a lift home. On the way back, we stopped off at a shop to pick up some things left behind the counter.
Then to finish off, I delivered two loads of shopping and enjoyed a cup of tea before leaving my last client of the day.
A busy but enjoyable afternoon!
Lots of Variety
Spotted some lovely poppies down by the river in Morpeth yesterday while making the most of the nice weather.
As well as getting out and about in the sunshine with clients this week, I've also had a variety of other jobs to do:
- called in to help find a missing wallet
- reorganised an appointment
- set up a key-finder (the thing you're looking for beeps when you press the button)
- made sure a very full black bin was put out ready for collection
- submitted an online request for one of my clients so they can get a call back from the GP
- helped a client order some clothes online and returned some that she didn't want
- helped with some gardening
Looking forward to lots of variety next week as well - planned and unplanned!
Flower Arranging
Flowers can be tricky to deal with (even with my Flower Arranging Badge from the Brownie's!)
I once helped unpack and arrange 3 boxes of flowers a client had received by post for a special occasion. Quite a big job by the time I'd disposed of all the packaging as well!
This was a lady I visited regularly as part of a monthly support package. Her nearest relative lived more than 3 hours drive away and could only visit once every 6-8 weeks, so my visits helped to get things done in-between and give her family peace of mind.
As an example, here's a list of what I did in one weekly visit, as well as sorting out the flowers:
• A relative had ordered her some new slippers but they were too small. The return label had been emailed to me so I could pack them up and drop them back off at the post office.
• I delivered and unpacked a large box of incontinence supplies (they were delivered to my house so she didn't get flustered by large boxes being delivered by strangers at random times of the day).
• I also helped with some paperwork which was causing her some anxiety. I supported her with writing a cheque out to pay her cleaner, and I photographed some other paperwork so I could email it to her relative who would be dealing with it for her.
• Before leaving, I popped out into the garden to fill up the bird feeder and the water bath.
• And of course we had some tea and biscuits and a nice chat!
Every visit is different.
Love my job!
A Trip to the Beach
I love an excuse to go to Druridge Bay and a couple of weeks ago I managed to take advantage of a nice afternoon and a low tide to take a client there for a walk along the beach.
Here are some of the other things I've been busy with over the last week or so:
• A client had broken a mirror, so I cleared up the debris and helped him find and buy a new one to replace it.
• While playing a selection of music for a client living with dementia, I noticed a very positive reaction to a certain track, so found some more music by that artist and genre for her to enjoy.
• A client had run into problems while trying to get her phone fixed, so I accompanied her to the repair shop and supported her to get it sorted out.
• I organised some food shopping for a client whose son was away on holiday and called in a few extra times during the week to check on her.
• A client kept losing his bank card when he was out shopping, needing it to be cancelled and replaced. I found a clear plastic holder and attached it to his wallet with a retractable cord, so he can now use it for contactless payments without detaching it from his wallet.
Planned and Unplanned Jobs
I enjoyed a lovely walk along the river from Morpeth to the viaduct yesterday in the gorgeous sunshine.
It's been a busy week this week with lots of planned and unplanned jobs to do for my clients. Here are some of the highlights:
• a client called me because they'd lost their bank card so I went round and managed to find it for them (their relative was waiting anxiously by the phone to see if they needed to cancel the card).
• organised an appointment with the nurse for a client who had been asked to go in for a blood test, and took them along for the appointment later in the week.
• shopped for a client whose daughter usually got her groceries but she was stuck late at work, calling in first to check the fridge and make a list.
• took my sewing kit along to repair a label which was hanging off a client's jumper.
• took a client along to the Age UK Live Well with Dementia Social Group in Morpeth.
• helped a client declutter and reorganise their kitchen.
I really enjoy being able to help my clients out with the planned and the unplanned things that crop up for them.
Out and About in the Sunshine
It's been lovely to get out and about in the sunshine recently.
Here are some of the things I've been doing over the last week or so, helping my clients live independently at home:
• Called in to organise an appointment, for a client who doesn't like talking on the phone, so we get together in person with our diaries to organise her appointments.
• Liaised with a private Occupational Therapist who will be visiting one of my clients to do an assessment for a new wheelchair.
• Dropped off a bag of clothes at a charity shop for one of my clients who has been decluttering.
• Read to a client from a beautifully illustrated story book and did some flower arranging with her supervising me and enjoying the flowers.
• Took clients to various appointments, including the opticians and Wansbeck Hospital.
• Attended a Board meeting in London in my role as a Non Executive Director of the National Association of Care and Support Workers.
• Visited a Morpeth Care Home where one of my clients is now a resident and listened to a poetry reading featuring her life story.
Independent Living
Lovely to catch Morpeth in the sunshine now and again inbetween downpours!
Here are some of the other things I got up to this week, helping my clients live independently at home:
• Picked up a medication tray from the pharmacy, spotted a problem with it and took it back to the pharmacy to be corrected.
• Organised a video call between my client and her friend who lives in New Zealand, including calculating the time difference, liaising with both to agree a suitable time and then calling in to get them connected.
• Spent time with a client whose mother is living with dementia, helping her decide on some activities that she and the carers can support her mother with. Helped her get things ordered, and also helped her set up a baby monitor, and sort a few other things around the house.
• Dropped off a parcel at the post office.
• Changed bedding and dropped it off at the laundrette for wash and iron.
• Shopped for clients at Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose.
A busy week
Here's a few of the things I got up to this week
helping my clients live independently at home
(so lovely to see daffodils everywhere this week as I worked my way around Morpeth and Ponteland!)
• Bought and replaced a light bulb
• Dropped a sample off at the GP surgery
• Went for a walk with a client, pushing her in her wheelchair along the river and through the park in the lovely sunshine
• Lots of food shopping
• Researched some activities for someone living with dementia
• Provided a steady arm so a client could walk safely along the road to an appointment and manage the steps (also making sure the lift would be working so we could get down for the appointment as the engineers were due to be in servicing it)
I finished off a busy week by dropping into an event at Vision Northumberland in Morpeth, finding out about lots of interesting organisations and equipment that might be useful for some of my clients.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about some of the things I do for my clients.
All my services are provided on a bespoke one to one basis and are fully flexible to meet the unique needs of every individual and their family.
I'm fully insured with an enhanced DBS on the annual update service, and you can find a lot more information on my website, or contact me to have a chat about what you need.
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