Short Break Stories

Short Breaks for Adult Carers in Falkirk District & Clackmannanshire

A story by Central Carers Association

We provided grants directly to carers who live in Falkirk District or Clackmannanshire.

What Short Breaks for Adult Carers in Falkirk District & Clackmannanshire did

Modified application form, guidance notes, publicity leaflet and other documentation for new funding, taking account of feedback on process/paperwork from previous round of funding from carers, carer support workers and panel members, set up recording and monitoring systems for allocation of funding, established panel made up of one member of the Board (who is also a former carer), one representative from Social Work and one representative from the Carers Centre and set six-weekly panel dates for the year.

Publicised funding as widely as possible though our website and newsletter which is distributed to local GP practices, libraries, hospitals, community care teams, local third sector organisations etc. Also distributed information by email through local CVS mailing distribution lists, carer support workers publicised the fund to carers contacting our service and helped carers to complete application forms where required.

Applications were considered by the panel though out the year and awards made to successful applicants, with a condition that receipts and a completed evaluation form be submitted following the break information from applications and evaluations was collated on an ongoing basis to assist with monitoring and reporting.

Sarah (33) cares for her husband Peter (42) who has a serious illness. Sarah was caring for her husband and their two children on her own, though often the children helped her look after their dad, and she was also working part-time. They had no formal support and Sarah's parents could only occasionally visit to help out as they lived 40 miles away and the cost of train fares was prohibitive.

Sarah and Peter were unable to get away for a break because of Peter's condition but Sarah used her £300 award to purchase rail cards and train tickets for her parents to visit more often to help her and to support her husband as well as providing company for him while she was at work and the children were at school. The children also benefited from more contact with their grandparents and from the additional support to the family.

Sarah has said: "In purchasing the railcards for my parents it has enabled them to come over a lot more to help myself and Peter to ease stress levels and ease Peter's loneliness.", "We were unable to get away for a break due to Peter's condition but we went together to see Top Gear live which was very enjoyable and we had a lovely day. My mental health improved and it made me very happy to see Peter so happy. Thank you for granting us this award. I has made our lives much easier'.

Marie has been caring for her mother who is 83 for 3 years. She suffers from arthritis, kidney problems, depression and other health problems. She is housebound due to her lack of mobility and lack of confidence. Her mother's condition deteriorated and she was hospitalised for a period of time following the recent death of her grandson, Marie's son. Marie provides emotional and physical support and help with all daily household tasks and finance.

Marie identified that she needed a break saying that she was 'physically and mentally exhausted'. She was grieving for her son as well as caring for her mother.

Marie used her award for a 7 night break at a hotel in Blackpool. On her return, Marie indicated that: her physical, mental and emotional health had improved; she felt better able to cope with her caring role; she felt more able to pursue a life outside her caring role; her relationship with her mother and other family members improved; and she felt better informed and more confident about planning and organising future breaks.

In her own words, Marie said, "I felt much better able to cope with my mother on my return from the break. I felt like 'me' again". "The break also gave my brother (who was caring for our mother in my absence) a better understanding of what I do on a daily basis. The break gave me a much needed change from the stress of daily life and was very much appreciated. I was able to come back and care for my mother with renewed zest'.
Fiona cares for her mother and is with her, providing help with personal care, housework, cooking and finances, most days. She used her award to pay for alternative therapies and told us that she now felt more able to have a life outside her caring role. She told us, "the money has proved invaluable in helping me health-wise. It's also been a bit of a journey finding out which therapies work best for me". As a result of various therapies, Fiona has noticed real improvements in her posture and her ability to wind down at the end of the day. Fiona also attended yoga classes and bought a second-hand bike which she tries to get out on at least 4 times a week.

Fiona now uses any spare money she has, for example, Birthday money, to continue with reflexology and other therapies and is now accessing other support through the Carers Centre, for example, training for carers on 'Memory Loss' which is relevant to her caring role. She says that she is more aware of her own health needs now and acts on them.

As a result of this funding, Fiona has found ways of relaxing and enjoying a break/activities outside her caring role which she can now enjoy and benefit from on an ongoing basis.

What Central Carers Association has learned

Throughout several years of funding for our Time to Live Project, we have learned more about the extent of the benefits to carers of a break, particularly one that has been tailored to meet their needs. Often this may involve a break which includes the person they are caring for, but a change of scene and having meals prepared can be hugely beneficial to both the carer and the cared for person, improving their respective health and wellbeing, improving relationships and helping to sustain the caring role.

Not only have we have been surprised by the extent of the benefits that are being reported by carers of all types of breaks but also the variety of uses for this type of funding to suit the needs of individual carers, giving them a chance to enjoy a life outside of their caring role and making them feel more confident about caring and less stressed as a result. Alternative therapies, guitar lessons, garden sheds, bikes and cinema passes are just some examples of how this funding can be used to effect longer term benefits for the carer and the person being cared for.

Being able to offer this funding to carers has often helped us as an organisation that supports carers to develop our relationship with carers, particularly those who are new to our service. Often carers who are reluctant to engage with services or accept support from elsewhere will decide to pursue this avenue as it is relatively unobtrusive and leaves the carer with control over when, where and what type of break will be of most benefit to them.

The act of completing the application form with the carer is supportive in itself, facilitating a conversation about the carer's role and circumstances and the challenges they are facing. Often, this conversation and the contact with the Carer Support Worker will lead to further support being made available through the Carers Centre, or through signposting to other organisations.
Top tips Central Carers Association's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Spending time thinking about and preparing paperwork and systems for the application process in advance is crucial, perhaps taking advice and asking for examples from other organisations who have already provided a similar service.
Tip 2:
Spending time developing a recording and monitoring system from the outset, including a carefully designed evaluation method, which will allow information required for reporting to be collated on an ongoing basis, saves considerable time and effort at the end of the grant period when information is required to be produced.
Tip 3:
In our experience, offering help to the carer to complete the application form has additional benefits including ensuring that all the relevant information is included to help the panel assess the application, allowing an opportunity to discuss possible uses for funding and different types of breaks, allowing an opportunity to discuss and provide information about breaks in general and other aspects of the caring role, providing information, support and signposting where relevant.