Services

Introduction

The Rosebery Centre is a Voluntary Organisation and Registered Charity (Scottish Charity no. SCO 21092). The Centre is geared to meet the needs of people of all ages with any type of dementia. The catchment area is Livingston, Uphall, Broxburn, Pumpherston, Mid Calder, East Calder, West Calder and Polbeth.

The centre began in 1985 and caters for 45 people with dementia per week (up to 15 people on each day) and up to 90 carers at any one time. There is usually a waiting list for piacement. Referrals are directed io ine Assessment and Care Management Team based in Bathgate and Broxburn. Resource allocation is decided at a monthly allocation meeting.

The Centre will in Jan ’14 apply for SCIO membership.

Day Care:

This is activity led and focuses on the individual needs of clients. The main objective of day care is to facilitate social interaction and stimulation, but also provide carer respite. The aim is to provide a homely, domestic environment.

Snacks and lunch are provided, a record of the activities undertaken, and the menu for the day is sent home with each member, which enables discussion with carers and a means of reality orientation.

At the end of the day staff and volunteers meet together to reflect on the day and review each client, enabling discussion with carers and a means of reality orientation. There is a specific focus for their discussion, namely concentration, interaction, participation, memory, and how their appetite had been that day.

Members are allocated key workers, enabling continuity of care and are regularly reviewed on an individual basis by Staff. A taxi picks up the members and brings them to the Centre. The minister of Polbeth Harwood Church has a role of chaplain and attends the Centre to address spiritual needs and minister communion, if this is requested. There are a variety of rooms available for members, including a small chapel area and a quiet room.

The volunteers go through mandatory checks including Disclosure Scotland and are required to participate in training. Training includes, amongst other topics, manual handling and information about dementia. Specific training has been undertaken, e.g., aromatherapy hand massage and this is provided at the centre.

Carers support:

A very flexible service exists including visits to individual carers to provide information, counselling, practical support e.g., completion of complex forms. They also work with both client and their carers in the development of life histories.

This can be a valuable way of understanding the person but can also be extremely useful information for the future, enabling individualised care. Carers can contact the team in an emergency situation and they will visit and provide appropriate help.

Volunteers also provide casual respite sitting service to allow carers respite for significant events. This involves using volunteers known and matched with the person with dementia. Carers are also invited to attend monthly group support sessions, which are informational and supportive. It is planned to offer a planned educational programme for carers where they would have the opportunity to attend sessions such as understanding dementia, managing challenging behaviour and understanding benefits. A bereavement service continues following the death of a client. This takes the form of staff members meeting with the bereaved on an agreed basis.

Annually a needs assessment is conducted by the Rosebery Centre. This questions clients and carers as to the unmet needs they have. The centre uses this information to review the services they offer.

Needs identified:

• Members and carers need a flexible service that can respond to changing needs and crisis.
• Limited resources within the Centre impact on the services on offer, however creative use of volunteers, staff and resources enable the provision of a flexible service.
• Supporting the carers in a variety of ways (information, individual counselling) provides the best opportunity to meet their needs.
• Treating clients with respect and dignity is paramount to all aspects of care.
• The stigma associated with dementia is very powerful and is a barrier to helping clients and carers cope with practical day-to-day issues.
• Carers often have to cope with their own frailty and difficulties as well as support the person with dementia. Providing a definite focus aimed at their support is important to enhance quality of life and sustain care in the home setting.
• An understanding and knowledgeable General Practitioner enhances the ongoing and effective provision of care within the home setting.