A PENSIONER has sent a letter to the Prime Minister praising Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council staff for helping her husband remain in the family home after he returned from hospital.
David Wildridge, 80, of Guisborough, needed support to improve his mobility and confidence when he came home to live with his wife, Sandra, after a long period in hospital.
The council’s Recovery and Independence Team, rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in March, helped him regain the skills he needed and so impressed the couple that they have written a letter to Theresa May.
“We wrote to the Prime Minister because we think the whole country should be providing this service,” said Sandra, “it is absolutely wonderful.
“If it wasn’t for the company and the encouragement the staff gave him, I don’t think he would have got out of bed on a morning. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
David, a former Police Inspector, explained he had previously broken his right femur, had suffered a fall and was then in hospital for three weeks as a result of an internal infection. He said: “I’m pleased the service has been recognised by the CQC and I would recommend it to anyone. When I came out of hospital, I couldn’t walk without someone with me and I lost a lot of confidence. I couldn’t use the stairs, get washed or get dressed.
“We heard about the service, and we decided to go through the referral process. I received a lot of help from the assistants, on a morning and an evening, so I could stay in the comfort of my own home. They were such characters, and I didn’t feel embarrassed at all. I had a really good laugh with them.”
The intensive support differs from traditional home care where a care assistant visits and carries out the tasks on behalf of the resident. Recovery and Independence assistants work with the person to achieve their desired outcomes by supporting them to learn, or relearn, how to undertake the tasks themselves.
“It’s so important to be at home, that really is the main thing. The assistants gradually reduced their help the more confident I became, and they were with me for six weeks. It’s a wonderful service, and it’s free,” laughed father-of-two and grandfather David, “I’m a Yorkshireman so that’s important!
“We haven’t had a response from the Prime Minister as yet – but then she may have one or two things on her mind!”
Councillor David Walsh, cabinet member for adults at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “We are so pleased Mr and Mrs Wildridge have had such a positive experience with our Recovery and Independence Team and Occupational therapists, who do such fantastic work.
“We are delighted to receive a ‘good’ rating from the CQC for this area of work, but to hear it from a resident who has experienced it first-hand is the most rewarding. I only hope the letter to the Prime Minister will show her why we need more resources to cope with the challenge of an ageing population, many whom will need help similar to Mr Wildridge and his family.”
The CQC is an independent regulator of health and social care in England and carries out regular and unannounced inspections of the borough’s care homes.
Elsewhere in the borough, following an inspection earlier this year, Jervaulx Road Residential Care Home in Skelton was also rated as ‘good’.
To find out more about the Recovery and Independence Team at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, or to speak to someone about referrals, please call 01642 065070.