Most people want more time to relax in life, so a Gloucestershire charity is giving local people their wish this festive season.
Lilian Faithfull Care, a charity established nearly 80 years ago, aims to improve the lives of others through care and dedication.
With homes filled with life, fun, and laughter across Gloucestershire, the charity provides high-quality respite, residential, and nursing care to people with a wide range of conditions.
One service in particular that Lilian Faithfull has seen an increase in enquiries for is respite care.
Respite care in a care home is a form of short-term, temporary support for individuals and their carers. Lasting however long is necessary, with many choosing to stay for a fortnight, it offers that crucial element of life we all wish we had more of – time for ourselves.
Lilian Faithfull’s respite care not only offers carers and relatives vital time for themselves, but it also gives cared-for individuals time to thrive.
Socialising and activities
While respite care offers caregivers and relatives the chance to socialise and engage in activities they don’t often have the time for, the breaks are also a holiday for residents themselves.
The homes’ packed schedules include fun-filled activities, delicious food, access to brilliant facilities, and much more – all of which get even more exciting during the Christmas period.
Not only are the breaks fun, but they are also an opportunity for individuals to maintain their independence. They can do things they may not be able to do at home, engage in different environments, and expand their social circles – all with the safety and support of dedicated carers by their side.
While stays are often short, they can allow temporary residents and their carers to experience life in a care home as an option for the future.
A restful break
Care home respite services also offer both carers and temporary residents a chance to take a break from everyday life.
Short-term respite breaks in safe environments such as Lilian Faithfull’s care homes allow carers to rest and recharge physically and mentally, helping them avoid burnout so that they can continue to deliver great care for their loved ones.
Not only that, the change of scenery and new opportunities on offer can be just as revitalising for those being cared for as well.
This time apart can also help strengthen relationships by removing some of the daily care responsibilities.
Rehabilitation and recovery
Respite stays also include convalescence, where individuals stay at a care home to get back on their feet following an illness or hospital stay.
Lilian Faithfull’s care homes have experienced, well-trained staff on hand 24 hours a day, as well as access to a multidisciplinary team of health professionals to provide the right level of support.
This includes physiotherapists who help with rehabilitation in-house, such as at the specialised gym at Faithfull House, which has equipment that supports strength and mobility.