Pilot scheme provides unpaid carers with skills to care for the elderly

A new scheme, which will see unpaid care providers given special training to better care for the elderly, is being trialled in Norwich and South Norfolk.

While we can adapt the home environment to better suit our needs as we get older, opting for rise recliner chairs for example, there are some tasks that may be too challenging to attempt ourselves and where a visiting carer would be appreciated. 

Carers Agency Partnership (CAP) is trialling a free scheme, supporting those caring for someone over the age of 65 on a voluntary basis. With funding help from Health Education England, participants will be offered advice and support in the comfort of their own homes. Visiting care coaches will go to the care giver’s home to advise them in a range of different care-based tasks, from nutrition information to build an appropriate meal plan, to keeping an eye on common health care issues for older patients. 

The programme encourages unpaid workers who may be looking after an elderly relative or friend to register to the scheme - through which they’ll learn the necessary skills to be confident in the care they provide.

CAP manager, Kevin Vaughan, explains:

“Carers often tell us that they feel thrown in the deep end when it comes to looking after an elderly relative or friend at home.

“They feel they haven’t always got the confidence, knowledge or skills that they need to keep that person safe and healthy for as long as possible and also look after themselves physically and emotionally.

“This unique coaching scheme helps the carer to get the skills and confidence they need to look after someone, enables them to access other information, advice and individual support along the way.”

So far the scheme is helping more than 250 unpaid carers in the area and if the trial is successful, CAP plans to open it to the rest of Norfolk in the near future.

Image Credit: Produnis (wikipedia.org)