Building a network of local support organisations [Sid Valley Help]
“Caregivers, in particular, play a vital role in a patient’s care, but the responsibility can be overwhelming, both emotionally and physically.” [Mesothelioma Hope]
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Over the next few days, as we look forward to the next year and possibly beyond, we are looking at the notion of future-proofing Sidmouth – that is, how to make us a little more resilient to the demands and challenges which as a community we will have to face.
First, here’s a look at how we might care for our elderly and infirm – both as professionals and as family members.
Sidmouth has the most care homes of any part of Devon if not the UK, but we must not overdo the stereotypes – and indeed, back in the autumn, we looked at debunking the headline that ‘Sidmouth has the highest proportion of residents aged over 90 in England’.
Nevertheless, we will still have to consider how we are going to care for the increasing number of people who will need care of some sort.
There is the long-term problem of funding social care in Devon, the care sector is desperately short of workers, the industry received a knocking during the Covid years and new housing developments offer a lack of care provision.
Looking at ways the profession is trying to cope, it was five years ago when the Sidmouth Primary Care Improvement Project was launched – and now the new Sid Valley Practice provides excellent care. Since its expansion, there is considerable help and info from Sidmouth Hospice at Home whose team are both extremely supportive and highly empathetic. And at the Sidmouth cottage hospital, the therapeutic garden is now well-established, providing solace for patients and visitors.
We are also very lucky to have Sid Valley Help providing health and care support – acting as a bridge between those needing and those giving care. Their homepage outlines their aims:
- provide a signposting service on health and care support services in the Sid Valley
- build a network of local support organisations
- identify gaps in non-statutory health and care support services and help to fill them.
And their current priorities are reducing loneliness in all age groups and mental wellbeing, particularly in children and young people.
In other words, it is not only the elderly who need ‘care’. Earlier this month, the Action East Devon charity campaigned for a festive boost in donations for young people’s mental health and last month, their (in)Visible Exhibition moved to Sidmouth Library.
These charities provide much-needed guidance and practical help for those needing care and for the carers themselves.
The Mesothelioma Hope advocacy group in the United States provides care and support for those suffering form this aggressive form of cancer – and has been in touch following a look at the VGS page on Health and Wellbeing. Their Advocacy Associate Annika Ellis writes from Massachusetts – and her points are equally valid for us in Devon:
As a leading resource in the mesothelioma community, we focus on supporting patients, families, and caregivers at every stage of their journey. Caregivers, in particular, play a vital role in a patient’s care, but the responsibility can be overwhelming, both emotionally and physically. To assist cancer patient caregivers, we’ve developed a page offering guidance on navigating their role, maintaining their mental and physical well-being, and accessing support resources. Would you help us provide support for caregivers by linking our resource on your page
The advice on their pages is particularly useful for anyone who has to provide long-term care to a family member: Mesothelioma Caregivers | Support for Loved Ones.
And if statutory bodies continue to struggle, we will need to turn to such charitable support to help us through the difficult art and practice of caring.
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