Shared Lives day support carers volunteer to maintain relationships in Moray.

We are a mainly a day support service and have 33 day support carers at present. Prior to the pandemic they delivered over 1,000 hours of day support each week across the Moray area, to adults with a variety of support needs. Most people who use are service are over the age of 65 or have a learning disability.

The Moray service remains suspended at the moment but we have now been given the green light for our carers to provide a day support service from their home subject to the appropriate individual risk assessment completion. We are hoping to remobilise at the end of January or February, all being well.

Whilst the carers have been at home, most of them have remained in touch with the people they previously supported, or their families if this is more appropriate. This is on a voluntary basis and has kept the relationships and support going over the 10 months since the crisis began so suddenly in March. They have shown great initiative with their support and have kept in contact by phone and social media, linked in to online groups like Alzheimer’s Scotland etc. As well as this they have gone on distanced walks to get out into nature, have dropped off personalised care packages such as framed photos of previous Shared Lives adventures, baked and delivered favourite cakes to have with a cuppie in people’s gardens together, delivered crafting projects for people to complete at home etc. On a more practical level, some of the carers have supported with shopping and this has been a lifeline for those who do not have family living nearby. On other occasions, our carers have sorted out hearing aid problems, sign posted people to local voluntary services for further help, and one carer has even put the bins out each week for one lady! It’s been the small things that seem to have accumulated together to mean so much. In the run up to Christmas, the carers seem to have stepped up their speed and most have been out and about across Moray delivering cards and small personalised gifts in an effort to reduce loneliness and spread a bit of cheer in what has been a difficult and lonely year for many.

The most important support though, to come out of this crisis has been the carers ears to the ground…. They have taken time to really listen and hear how the 130 families we previously supported have been coping. They have been providing an ear to listen and a real interest in each person. I feel that this is a special part of the heart of the SL model of care and it has not stopped, even during a pandemic! On several occasions carers have highlighted concerns to us either at our monthly carer support calls or at other times. We have then been able to access social work support for them. This has been vital, as not everyone is willing or able to do this themselves and social work reviews have unfortunately mostly ceased for now. It is a confusing world for some at the best of times and good Samaritans at times like these are very special indeed.

I hope you all have a nice Christmas and New Year. We are all very lucky to be part of such a wonderful model of care.