Positive Support from Helping Hands | 24 hour personal assistance for adults from 18 years old

What made you decide on Live in Care?

A - When I first moved into this flat more than six years ago I had hourly care four times a day, plus the district nurses came in four times a day. I didn’t really have a life because they weren’t able to do certain parts of my personal care. I had to rely on my mum if I wanted to go out, so I sort of realised that I needed something more so I spoke to social serviced to see what they could do and I realised that live in care would be the better option for me.

Where did you hear about Helping Hands

A - Two years ago I was thinking about studying abroad, I thought about London as it is not to far away from France. It is important to learn English so I that is what made my mind up. I approached the French Association of Disabled People and asked for their help and they managed this project for me. Thanks to them I have managed to do this. I explained what my expectations were and they have helped me a lot to find everything, for example Helping Hands. I chose Helping Hands because you are a successful Live in Care company and you are not too big or too small. I looked at your website and I had an appointment with Melanie Dawson and she explained that to expect and showed a lot of professionalism, I was satisfied after this meeting and that is why I chose you and Helping hands is a very established company and that is why I can trust you and have chosen you.

Q- Can you tell me about how helping hands became involved in the care for Gordon?

A- That started in 2006 through social services and myself because I had be rushed into hospital to have a bone marrow transplant because I had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. If I didn’t have it done my life would be over in four weeks. So we got Helping Hands and the carer came and it was more or less baptism by fire, he came at 2 o’clock the day before and 9 o’clock the next morning I was off. That was in February and I came back in April. He looked after Gordon, my house, we kept in contact through telephone until I came home.

Q- Tell me how it works with the carers, how you Gordon and the Carer work together?

A- We work as a team because if you don’t it doesn’t work. The carers main objective is helping Gordon, assisting Gordon with showering, dressing, cleaning teeth, breakfast, making his bed, packing lunch up and getting ready for the transport when they come. They help around the house and anything else thati ask them to do within reason they can do.

Q- What is Gordon able to do now?

A- He stands up for himself. Once upon a time if anyone went up to him he would shy away, where now he doesn’t. He looks people straight in the face, looks them in the eye really, he introduces himself, shakes hands and converses with people. He is not shy.

Q – How has Live in Care affected your relationship with Gordon?

A- It stops it being fraught as sometimes when I have to go into hospital Gordon gets himself all wound up and tense. He doesn’t want me to go and then he gets wound up. But with a carer, he is used to a carer and his day doesn’t change and he copes very well.

Q- What about the difference it has made to your life

A- A lot! I don’t have to worry about if I have to go to hospital or if I am going to back in time for him, if I don’t feel very well. I don’t have to worry about caring for Gordon. If my temperature spikes I have half an hour to get to the hospital. If it wasn’t for Helping Hands Live in Carers, it would be very hard to have to, do my house, look after Gordon, hospital, trying to get everything all together and keeping the time. The hospital can give me an appointment for seven o’clock at night or they can give me one for quarter to four or half past three. You have to just take it when you can. I used to have to panick and ask people to be here for Gordon, where now with the carer I don’t. The carer is always here for Gordon. It means that he is not shoved from pillar to post, he has a continuation of his time and his day isn’t interrupted.

Q - What made you select Helping Hands?

A - I did have a list of agencies to interview. I was with my social worker at the time, she knew the problems that I was going through and she was very supportive. We phoned Helping Hands and asked them if they would be happy to do an assessment for me and a lovely Lady called Melanie came with a colleague of hers and we just went through (quite diligently) the care plan and for the first time, she acknowledged every aspect of my life and said “this is what we can deliver” which is very refreshing. The fact that Melanie had knowledge about my condition, it’s not important but it does help with knowing that the agency understands what my care needs are.