Short Break Stories

Crossroads Lewis Creative Breaks

A story by Crossroads Lewis

This service gives a family carer a break of up to 3 nights/4 days.  Our highly experienced team of Care Attendants provide 24 hour care at home service. Our team take over the role of the carer, meeting all needs, with minimal disruption to the cared-for. Priority is given to carers unable to use statutory respite, and the service is open to Young Carers.

What Crossroads Lewis Creative Breaks did

Service information and booking forms were sent to all carers known to our organisation. It was also well-publicised through the internet, press and through partnership working with Social Dept, GP practices, community nurses, and by referrals from other organisations e.g. Alzheimer's.

Breaks were offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority to those unable to take any other form of respite. All breaks provided care at home to the cared-for, who were supported by our Care Attendant Team for all their needs e.g. personal care, meals, medication, companionship. The breaks varied in length depending on the carer's/service user's needs, and were as flexible as possible.

Two carers who took day time hours only, used them to attend weddings on the island. All carers who took a break for one night or more, went to the mainland e.g. to visit family, meet up with friends, go shopping, take part in their hobby, go to a conference, attend a wedding.

4 carers wished only daytime hours 'taster' sessions.
1 carer took a break of 1 night/2 days a 'taster' break.
2 carers chose to split a full breaks e.g. going away for one night/two days, and going away again for two nights/three days.
1 carer received a break of 4 nights/5 days.
3 carers took a break of 3 nights/4 days.

75 year old full-time carer looking after 87 year old partner with dementia. No family on island. Receives regular weekly support from Crossroads' core service. Poor experience of residential respite left carer unsure about taking a short break. The cared-for cannot be left alone at any time. Took one night/two day trip to mainland through Short Breaks, later described as 'fantastic.' Has now the confidence to go away more readily, and has bought a camper van specifically for short breaks.

52 year old full-time carer, unable to use other respite due to cared-for's Alzheimers, looking after parent through day/night. The cared-for needs constant supervision as is at risk of falling. The cared-for requires support with all needs. Receives days and overnight support regularly from Crossroads' own core services. Gave up her working life on mainland to return home to look after parent four years ago. Used short breaks service twice to go off the island, to meet up with friends, go shopping, have undisturbed sleep and 'just relax.'
50 year old carer, working full-time from home, providing day and night support to parent with dementia. Cared-for is a high risk and prone to wandering outwith the home if left alone. The cared-for required support for all her needs. The cared-for does not want to go to residential respite and did not enjoy day centre she attended once in community. Carer able to visit mainland and attend wedding with rest of family.

What Crossroads Lewis has learned

Benefits: Enhanced our profile in the community, provided more hours of work to staff, carers feel more supported, satisfaction in care attendant team who understand the value of short breaks to carers. Staff get to know service users very well. Providing 'taster' sessions with daytime hours, to encourage those new to the service to take up full breaks.

Challenges: Being flexible to changing plans/needs, cancelled breaks, service demand quiet at certain times of year so influx of breaks around same time is difficult to manage along with other core services, gaining thorough risk assessments on those we have not provided a serivce to previously.
Top tips Crossroads Lewis's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Be flexible to the carers' and service users' needs.
Tip 2:
You can't plan for every eventuality, but gathering as much information as possible on the service users' needs/likes/dislikes etc. makes the best possible break and lessens any stress for staff.
Tip 3:
Provide a 'taster' break if carer/service user are anxious, with a chance for them to meet staff.