Short Break Stories

Time to Live

A story by Borders Carers Centre

We provided grants directly to carers who live in the Scottish Borders.

What Time to Live did

Most applications were completed online and submitted to the Manager. These were then forwarded to an application panel who fed back to the manager by e mail.

The funding was advertised on our website, all carers who came into contact with the Centre were told about the fund and encouraged to apply, often with the support of a worker.

The application form was also e mailed to all health, social care and third sector contacts and managers within these organisations were asked to encourage their staff to bear the fund in mind when speaking to carers.

Anne helps her mum with all aspects of care, there are paid carers attending to help with washing etc but her Mum can need help in-between times especially with UTI’s which cause her to black out etc. Anne supports with dressing, continence, medication monitoring, encouragement to eat and cooking, help with mobility, all housework, shopping etc, constant emotional support, supervision as high risk falls, assists with bills etc, help to get to appointments.

Anne is quite fragile mentally at times as she is exhausted from her caring situation, she would greatly benefit from time out and the focus being on her own health and wellbeing, she is struggling physically and emotionally. She applied for funding for alternative therapy sessions.

Anne said "This enabled me to release built up stress and anxiety which meant I was more able to cope with caring." "Not having a life outside caring is devastating at times, you lose a sense of self. Event 2 hours a week becomes a blessing." "I began to see myself as an important person again"

Mary needs full support with personal care etc, she has high pain levels, poor mobility due to fibromyalgia, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue. She is reliant on David for all aspects of care, including support to get to the toilet, washing, food shopping, cooking and housework. David also supports their son who has Tourettes, high levels of anxiety, OCD and pain due to hypersensory disorder, he needs support when out of the home due to frequent panic attacks.

Mary and David have a caravan, they have been unable to use it as their tow bar is broken, this is limiting any breaks they are getting. David enjoys spending time with Mary and Ewan away from home despite still needing to provide personal care, he advises this helps him cope with their situation etc as they have a change of scenery, they are struggling to find the money to replace the tow bar which costs £360, they would benefit from £300 towards this and will contribute £60 themselves.

David advises that when they were able to go away it was great to have the freedom of going when Mary’s pain allowed, they would find it difficult to plan a break in any other way and need to be able to go around Mary which cannot be decided weeks in advance.

They received a grant to replace the tow bar, this enabled them to go away for a holiday.

David says "Was able to access everywhere in wheelchair, got some fresh air and met friends we haven't seen for years" "Met the lead singer of 5 finger death punch which made my weekend!" " I feel recharged and ready to continue caring with a more positive outlook knowing we can get away now and again"

What Borders Carers Centre has learned

Carers can be very creative in thinking about what gives them the best break when they are given the opportunity. We attract new carers by not taking repeat applications within a specified time period.