This week, the team at Sherrell House Care Home in Chigwell welcomed Karen, their first Essential Care Giver.
This is a new role that was introduced by the government in March, which allows relatives and friends a greater degree of contact with their loved ones by assisting the team at the home to care for their loved ones. Their roles involve carrying out personal tasks, such as supporting them during mealtimes, providing emotional support, or just being a familiar face present while team members carry our personal tasks. This, we hope, will also help to put residents at ease and boost their wellbeing after the year of uncertainty we have just faced.
Karen was motivated to become an ECG so she could spend more time with her mother and play an active role in her care. This is something we encourage at Excelcare and this new announcement from the government allows relatives and friends to have a much more hands-on role if they wish.
Karen’s first day was spent in the garden with her mother, Nina, arranging flowers and walking around. Nina used to be a florist, so this was an activity she really enjoyed, especially whilst in the company of her daughter.
“Karen is very special to me, we have a special bond,” said Nina. Karen responded, saying “It is wonderful having contact with mum and to see her so happy and being able to help with her care and support.”
It was wonderful watching Nina and Karen enjoying time spent together. Home Manager Amanda, said “ It was lovely to see how much this meant to Nina and Karen, just seeing them together felt like a bit of normality coming back to the home and our residents' lives. The joy on their faces brought a tear to the eye.”