Care in the Community
SOMETIMES people need extra help. The unexpected happens, or disability or illness strikes. And, as loved ones inevitably grow older, a bit of assistance is often needed. Asking for help is the first step, and easy to do with a wide selection of products and services available locally.
Growing older with grace
Seniors often need assistance with day to day chores, home maintenance or routines. They take medications on a schedule. Dementia is especially troubling to deal with. Even when adult children are nearby to provide assistance, busy lives make it nearly impossible to keep up. Trained professional services and home carers are available to do this – allowing the elderly to stay in their own homes and adult children to get the professional assistance they need in caring for their loved ones – whether on a semi-regular basis or 24 hours a day.
Special needs
Physically or mentally disabled children and adults can benefit from professional home care as well. Experienced carers may not only assist at home, they can take clients on outings and help them pursue their interests, whether it is bird watching or music sessions.
Making relationships work
Successful relationships are hard work. But sometimes even hard work isn’t enough, when there are changes within the family, addiction issues, death or financial crisis. Counselling allows family members or couples to talk about their feelings and problems with a trained, neutral professional in a confidential environment. Counsellors can help people deal with negative thoughts and situations and help heal family rifts, so there is no need to suffer.
When love hurts
The statistics on domestic violence are sobering. A domestic violence incident is recorded every 10 minutes in Scotland. At least one in five women in Scotland will experience domestic abuse, and one in three teenage girls suffers an unwanted sexual act. These things are nothing to be ashamed about or keep hidden. Local organisations are there to listen and provide solutions, whether a victim needs to get safely out of a situation immediately or counselling for emotional trauma.
It’s not just the blues
There doesn’t have to be an emergency situation for a person to
reach out. Clinical depression is a medical condition, not just feeling blue, and can be treated as such. Or sometimes life gets overwhelming and people just need someone to talk to. Whatever the case, suffering in silence is not the answer. One phone call can be the first step to a happy, healthy life.
What type of help is available?
There are a wide range of care services that are available in the community, including:
• Home care services: help with personal tasks, such as bathing, washing, getting up and going to bed, shopping and managing finances.
• Home helps: can provide assistance with general domestic tasks, including cleaning and cooking, and can help in maintaining hygiene in the home.
• Recreational, occupational, educational and cultural activities: day centres, lectures, games, outings and help with living skills and budgeting. This usually also involves providing transport to attend facilities.
• Mental health care and therapies: relationship counselling for families and couples.