Short Break Stories

Tagsa Uibhist Doigheag Respite Care Home

A story by Tagsa Uibhist

Tagsa Uibhist provided respite care on a flexible basis depending on family carers requirements.

Doigheag is a small homely facility that promotes individuality and encourages independence and choice. if residential respite is not suitable or a room is not available we will try to find community support staff to provide respite at home.

What Tagsa Uibhist Doigheag Respite Care Home did

Shared Care Scotland enabled Tagsa Uibhist to provided respite support for 10 people for respite support in our care home and 3 in their own homes. The respite service was advertised monthly in local newspaper. Cared for people that used the Doigheag facility were very positive about their stay and equally carers were happy for their loved ones to return.

During their visit the cared for people would choose what they wanted their day to look like, they decided daily what time they would get up, go to bed, have breakfast etc. They would perhaps go out with staff or have visitors to the home depending on their ability and interest they would take part in activities, such as going for a walk, doing a jigsaw, help cook meals etc with the day very much about their individual choice.

Family carers took much needed respite breaks at home and abroad. Some attended family occasions and enjoyed visits to family and friends on the mainland. Others took respite to recover from illness. Respite was offered to individuals on a weekly basis and for a total of two week period.

A carer for his middle aged wife who suffers from MS was able to enjoy a weeks respite for the first time as previously the only option of respite was to an elderly residential home as he was not able to consider respite as an option so was relieved to have been given this opportunity.

An older gentleman with physical disabilities and dementia had previously spent respite at a residential care home (the only other facility) enjoyed his time at Doigheag so much that his carer recognized that it was now not an ordeal to obtain respite throughout the year as her husband was happy.
A carer that provides 24 hour care for his wife including night time care needed a break before his hip operation to ensure he was strong. He had never received respite as his wife would not leave the house. We were able to provide 24 hour care in their own home which allowed him to visit family and
recuperate prior to hospital admission.

What Tagsa Uibhist has learned

This fund has allowed us to provide some excellent respite to those in need and we have learnt that if the person being cared for is happy the carer can be more relaxed and benefit from their break. We have learnt that a respite bed in a residential home does not accommodate all respite needs and with the closure of the respite facility many carers are not taking respite.
Top tips Tagsa Uibhist's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
To provide a service that meets both the carer and the cared for persons needs as this will enhance the experience of respite for the carer.
Tip 2:
To be flexible in your approach to individuality when providing respite and adapt to provide a holiday/ homely atmosphere for the service user so that they are enjoying their respite time.
Tip 3:
To ensure that monitoring and evaluation system is devised prior to project, which will provide accurate ongoing feedback from carers and people cared for.

"Thoroughly enjoyed the total relaxation and the time spent away from home. Did me a power of good - I am now a Pampered person! - Thank you"

Service User

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