Carmarthenshire service working wonders
Carmarthenshire's Enablement Service is benefitting people across the county.
This free service is provided in people’s own homes to support those who need help to regain independence, confidence and skills following a period of illness, disability, or loss of self-confidence.
Community enablement helps by supporting a return home from hospital or care home, and prevents unnecessary admissions to hospital or care.
Sheila Porter, Head of Integrated Services, said: “The service has been designed to support people to remain living safely in their own homes. It promotes choice and quality of life by helping people to do as much as they can for themselves.
“We are constantly looking for feedback about how our care services are run, and are consistently told that people prefer to be supported in their own homes where they feel most comfortable.”
Two people have been singing the praises of the service for helping them to be more confident and independent.
Here are their stories:
Mr Charles Marshall, from Llanstephan
Mr Charles Marshall at his home in Llanstephan, chatting to Debbie Evans, of the enablement team. Pic Jeff Connell
Charles Marshall, aged 87, has been supported since leaving hospital after a hip replacement, and is now able to walk to the village shop and drive short distances.
Mr Marshall was put in touch with the council’s social care department while still a patient at Glangwili Hospital.
Following assessment, he was offered a period of support and care in his own home as part of the Enablement Service.
Planning a safe discharge home for Mr Marshall was mainly focused on building his confidence up in undertaking many tasks he was independent with before his hospital admission.
A team of Enablement Workers visited him at home daily over a six-week period.
They helped him regain his confidence by encouraging and motivating him to become independent once again, by being able to wash and dress himself, make meals, and get in and out of bed safely.
“The team has been so considerate and very supportive and have helped in so many ways to improve my health,” he said.
“It has been difficult to get back to doing simple things like having a shower, but they have made me feel more confident, because if anything was to go wrong they would be there to help.
“I really am so grateful for all their support.”
Mr Peter Jones, from Llanelli
Enablement workers Karen Stevens and Craig McCormack at the home of Mr Peter Jones, of Llanelli. Pic Jeff Connell
79-year-old Peter Jones, of Old Castle Road, has received a package of home care following a lengthy stay at the town’s Prince Philip Hospital.
The retired steel industry worker had suffered a fall whilst on holiday.
He spent a month in a Spanish hospital, where unfortunately he suffered a heart attack and mild stroke, which led him to have a pacemaker fitted.
He was transferred to Llanelli by Air Ambulance, and stayed a further four months in hospital.
Sadly, during his hospital stay he lost his confidence, and so planning a safe discharge home for Mr Jones was mainly focused on building his confidence up in undertaking many tasks he was independent with before his hospital admission.
That is where the Enablement Service stepped in. After six weeks of care, Mr Jones has now been discharged, and is able to look after himself at home.
“If it wasn’t for the carers coming in I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
“I couldn’t have done without them – especially in the beginning because I could hardly walk. They’ve been very good to me.”
For further information about the Enablement Service, please call the teams in your area:
Aman/Gwendraeth Enablement Team – 01269 590233
Llanelli Enablement Team – 01554 747551
Tywi, Teifi, Taf Enablement Team – 01267 224251
This free service is provided in people’s own homes to support those who need help to regain independence, confidence and skills following a period of illness, disability, or loss of self-confidence.
Community enablement helps by supporting a return home from hospital or care home, and prevents unnecessary admissions to hospital or care.
Sheila Porter, Head of Integrated Services, said: “The service has been designed to support people to remain living safely in their own homes. It promotes choice and quality of life by helping people to do as much as they can for themselves.
“We are constantly looking for feedback about how our care services are run, and are consistently told that people prefer to be supported in their own homes where they feel most comfortable.”
Two people have been singing the praises of the service for helping them to be more confident and independent.
Here are their stories:
Mr Charles Marshall, from Llanstephan
Mr Charles Marshall at his home in Llanstephan, chatting to Debbie Evans, of the enablement team. Pic Jeff Connell
Charles Marshall, aged 87, has been supported since leaving hospital after a hip replacement, and is now able to walk to the village shop and drive short distances.
Mr Marshall was put in touch with the council’s social care department while still a patient at Glangwili Hospital.
Following assessment, he was offered a period of support and care in his own home as part of the Enablement Service.
Planning a safe discharge home for Mr Marshall was mainly focused on building his confidence up in undertaking many tasks he was independent with before his hospital admission.
A team of Enablement Workers visited him at home daily over a six-week period.
They helped him regain his confidence by encouraging and motivating him to become independent once again, by being able to wash and dress himself, make meals, and get in and out of bed safely.
“The team has been so considerate and very supportive and have helped in so many ways to improve my health,” he said.
“It has been difficult to get back to doing simple things like having a shower, but they have made me feel more confident, because if anything was to go wrong they would be there to help.
“I really am so grateful for all their support.”
Mr Peter Jones, from Llanelli
Enablement workers Karen Stevens and Craig McCormack at the home of Mr Peter Jones, of Llanelli. Pic Jeff Connell
79-year-old Peter Jones, of Old Castle Road, has received a package of home care following a lengthy stay at the town’s Prince Philip Hospital.
The retired steel industry worker had suffered a fall whilst on holiday.
He spent a month in a Spanish hospital, where unfortunately he suffered a heart attack and mild stroke, which led him to have a pacemaker fitted.
He was transferred to Llanelli by Air Ambulance, and stayed a further four months in hospital.
Sadly, during his hospital stay he lost his confidence, and so planning a safe discharge home for Mr Jones was mainly focused on building his confidence up in undertaking many tasks he was independent with before his hospital admission.
That is where the Enablement Service stepped in. After six weeks of care, Mr Jones has now been discharged, and is able to look after himself at home.
“If it wasn’t for the carers coming in I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
“I couldn’t have done without them – especially in the beginning because I could hardly walk. They’ve been very good to me.”
For further information about the Enablement Service, please call the teams in your area:
Aman/Gwendraeth Enablement Team – 01269 590233
Llanelli Enablement Team – 01554 747551
Tywi, Teifi, Taf Enablement Team – 01267 224251
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