Spring is on the way, and the clocks going forward means we can go to work when its light, and we may even get home while it’s still light in the evenings.
Sleep is what we consider an “activity of daily living” and we care as much about out teams’ rest as we do our service users.
Our 7am – 10pm care service is delivered 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It takes a dedicated team to do that, and we are blessed to have one.
Many of our care team have small children (who don’t sleep) have partners who work opposite them ( ships in the night) and do school runs either side of their working day;it’s no small feat to get an Amberlette to your door.
Our Ambertlettes are amazing, they sort their own families first and then hop in their car to help others. Having done battle with alarm clocks, lunch boxes and traffic, our carers are more than ready for lighter days and better weather, and our service users are looking forward to their gardens and patios becoming an option again.
Once they arrive, we start our service users morning routines, more “activities of daily living”, things we take for granted such as brushing teeth, combing hair, doing shaves and showers, and helping with jolly good washes and popping on fresh clothes are just some of the things we can help with. Breakfast is whateverpeople prefer, and often we make sure they have their medication as prescribed at the same time. Curtains are drawn, tv on, we can have a good moan about the news and the state of the country together.
Activities of Daily living can include – and this list is not exhaustive:
Washing, bathing, showering, hair wash.
Creams, medication, gels and eye drops.
Compression stockings, feet soak, help with shoes and socks. Dressing.
Toilet assistance, catheter, and commode care.
teeth brushing soaking and fixing.
Hot drinks, meals, and kitchen chores.
We have night owls, and early birds, and try to arrange care calls to suit the person, but its only when you sit down with your elders that you realise how unique everyone is, and how lucky we are to spend time with them.
