Short Break Stories

Creative Breaks for People Who Care

A story by Dochas Centre

We provided grants directly to unpaid Carers who live in Argyll and Bute.

What Creative Breaks for People Who Care did

The breaks were advertised on our Website's, newsletters and the local press as well as in the centres and with partner agencies.

Across the 4 areas of Argyll & Bute there were a wide variety of activities ranging from, Panto in Glasgow, a day away to Portavadie in Carers Week where 54 carers from MAKI attended. Short breaks/weekend breaks to various locations.

A carer whose husband has Alzheimer's and who works full time spends the rest of her time caring for her husbnad. Carer cannot access any of the activities of the centre due to work and caring.

She got to spend some time with her daughter and spent a few days in a hotel relaxing as she knew that cover was organised for her husband.

B and C are a young couple who have 2 children the youngest having Down's Syndrome. Be is a full time teacher and C has been off work on sick leave for over a year with the stress of caring. They hadn't had a break for such a long time together. They went to Crieff Hydro for the weekend. Having this time and also improved their relationship together help reduce stress and recharge the batteries.
Carer A gave up his life and business in Australia to come to Argyll to look after Mum who has dementia. He is an ex nurse and carries out this role very well.

Coming in to complete the forms for a wee break gave him a chance to talk about his role and how it was affecting him. We helped him to realise that he needed looking after too and he agreed to take a short break with friends while his sister came to look after Mum. He came to see us on his return and he was amazed how he did not recognise how burnt out he was. He comes in regularly now to let us know how he is getting on. He has fought for more help which has enabled him to have a bit of time off each day.
A carer and her autistic son were enabled to visit family, rarely seen in Ireland where they received physical and emotional support.

What Dochas Centre has learned

These breaks are very important to carers. Being able to offer them means that we know carers can access a break quickly and without too much fuss. We can assist them through the process. They trust us and because we already have a relationship with them, we generally know the kind of break, leisure pursuits, amount of time away and what support they need to put in place to make it work.

As a team this gives us immense job satisfaction as we can see how appreciative the carers are, and more importantly, how it helps them to continue to manage their caring role. There were no real surprises throughout the process. We are very proactive in raising awareness of our services locally and this is how we identify new carers. Word of mouth is generally the best means of referral.

It's been a great opportunity for carers who don't usually get any breaks to be able to access a break away.
Top tips Dochas Centre's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Keep the application and decision making process easy, clear and short.

Assist carers to make creative choices as sometimes, they don't feel confident to make such choices, and in most cases, they don't feel worthy of having a break. They often feel like they are "taking away from someone who really needs it!"
Tip 2:
Active listening to carers needs, flexibility and imagination and recording of intending outcomes and success indicators
Tip 3:
Gives carers a chance to talk about their caring role by asking the questions on the form. The short breaks booklets help to assist the carers to dream of what they would like for themselves.