“Sometimes the hardest thing is asking for help”
Like a ray of sunshine in these dark days is the story of a new company formed to provide help and assistance in all possible ways to residents – mostly elderly – in the areas of Alfaz del Pi and Albir but gradually spreading to adjoining areas
During the relatively short time that Eve Lindsay and Helen Spiller have been running their care company Hand in Hand Spain the type of calls they receive for assistance have become many and varied so much that, in the months since they began in December of last year, they have contracted seven more assistants/ helpers/ staff. ** And they can cover most needs.
How did they begin? Eve was running ‘ Sparkles’, her own window cleaning business, with many of her customers at Forum Mare Nostrum residential complex in Alfaz, through her work in the area she came into contact with residents of different nationalities, mostly elderly, and became aware of the variety of problems they faced. Eve discussed with her friend Helen the possibility of being in a position to help solve these different problems.
Over some time, they talked over the idea of forming a company between them that would be primarily for that purpose. After some months of discussion, they decided it was time to stop talking and go ahead and thus Hand in Hand was created.
A few short months later the Covid19 virus hit and they expected that this new business could founder but on the contrary there were more and more calls for help and for so many different needs that they kept people with different skills to their staff. They could not turn away any cry for help.
These calls come at any hour – there could be a serious problem as in the case of a man who died and whose wife was suffering from dementia; due to the lockdown the family could not come out and Hand inHand had to organise 24/ 7 assistance.
However, most of the calls they receive can be very simple such as being called to change a bed. Many times companionship is what is wanted and they will call in for coffee, shopping can be done, laundry and ironing, they have even helped with tax returns, set up ‘ Alexa’ and techhelp, finding a gardener or a handyman., translations in four languages. They encourage people to meet each other and often act as intermediaries to make this happen.
Because there are people that they deal with who find it hard to manage on their income, Helen also applies on their behalf for Attendance Allowance from the UK. This is a nonmeans tested benefit that provides money for care needs.
As they told me the whole concept of Hand in Hand is doing whatever makes their client happy.
Of considerable support has been the endorsement of Rafa Miró, director of Forum, who has seen the benefits of Hand in Hand for the residents of Forum Mare Nostrum.
Eve and Helen told me that surprisingly many people who need their help leave it as long as possible as they find it hard to admit that they need it. And a major difference they have noticed since the onset of the virus is that they have seen many independent, happy people losing confidence, afraid to go out and struggling to cope. That gives a whole new dimension to the work of these dedicated ladies and their staff. To manage that they are actively forming contact with local and national organisations for help and information.