CARE at home company, Abney & Baker, supports over 40 people in Melksham – and throughout the pandemic their support has proved to be a lifeline.
Its carers provide support to individuals in their own home, helping its clients to remain as independent as possible. Support varies from personal care, end of life care, companionship, and help with everyday tasks – but the effects of the pandemic have meant that carers have also had to be a source of information, reassurance and a listening ear to many of their clients who live alone and are isolated.
But Abney & Baker’s regional support manager for Wiltshire, Kerri Gardner, says that there is “relief” on the horizon with many clients receiving the first dose of the vaccine, and the news that the vaccine is soon to be rolled out to carers who provide support at home.
“We were elated to hear the news about the vaccine,” said Kerri speaking to Melksham News on the day Abney & Baker received the news about the rollout. “It is the light in a very dark tunnel. I don’t believe that the vaccination means that it is all over, but it is the start of a new chapter.
“And I’m sure that news of the vaccine rollout will bring relief to our clients too. But it has felt that it has been an incredibly long time coming. Everyone has spoken about the care homes and the hospitals getting the vaccine – but we as home care providers, we don’t seem to be anywhere near the top of the pecking order, and I think all the agencies feel the same way.
I understand that the hospitals and care homes are high priority, but I feel we are just as high priority as care homes – we are just as important.”
About what it has been like for carers and clients since the pandemic began, Kerri explains, “For the carers and clients it has not been easy at all. We are dealing with some clients who are poorly anyway, and then to put the worry of Covid on them as well – it has been difficult.
“Some of our clients have been worried that having us in their homes is going to increase the risk of them catching Covid. We have had some clients who aren’t having essential care tell us that for the moment, they’d rather not have anyone in.
“So from the client’s point of view it has been a worry. Carers have had to do a lot of talking, encouraging and reassuring to calm people down – which has been a pressure on them, as they are dealing with their own worries, and their home lives.
“But this is something we are on top of – from the company’s point of view we are dealing with it and protecting clients and carers as much as we possibly can.”
With ongoing restrictions causing those living alone to become more isolated, Abney & Baker’s carers have seen first-hand how the pandemic can impact someone’s mental health.
“Some of our clients have family members that haven’t been able to see them, due to having to isolate or being in their own bubbles, and some relatives live too far away. So having our carers in their homes has been an amazing support to our clients.
“We’ve had to make sure that mental health is one of our priorities – a lot of our clients have been spending a lot more time on their own and a lot more time inside.
“I’m aware that for some of them, their carer might be the only person they see in a day – so understanding that, the carer has that added pressure too.
“They are trying to relieve them of their worries, give reassurance – clients have needed someone other than the TV to tell them that everything is going to be okay, that we are going to get out of this – it’s not going to be forever. And that’s on top of dealing with their own worries.”
For more information about Abney & Baker, visit the website: www.abneyandbaker.com
