How Guild Care’s community services are supporting full-time carers in Worthing

This can leave many carers feeling hopeless and isolated, as they’re unable to strike the right balance between caring for their loved one, maintaining a healthy social life and finding space to do their own thing. However, there are services in the local community that are helping to lift the weight from some of these demands and giving carers that much-needed personal time back.

Two of the support services we run at Guild Care help to reduce carer breakdown and offer a great opportunity for people living with dementia to get together with others in the local community. This regular social interaction can delay, or in some cases even prevent, the need for those with dementia to move into residential care.

Through Time Out for Carers, we provide a safe and stimulating environment for individuals to spend their day once a week – while Time Out for Carers Plus is for those with more advanced care needs.

Members of these services enjoy taking part in meaningful activities, which can include gardening, baking, quizzes and crafting, with a hot two course lunch and a transport service also provided, subject to availability.

We often hear the benefits that the Time Out for Carers service can have first hand – 89 per cent of our members said it had improved their mental health, while 92 per cent reported that they had more social interactions and contacts as a result.

One member told us: “As soon as you walk in the door, you find a happy person to greet you. We are given things to do with pleasant helpers handing out drinks and biscuits. I feel more confident here and I’m making new friends.”

We also hear how this service benefits carers, with many spouses and children of loved ones using it as an opportunity to take a regular day off from caring once a week – 88 per cent of our members said they had more time for themselves, while 100 per cent felt more supported since accessing Guild Care services.

One carer said: “I feel happy knowing that my wife is happy and enjoying her time at the club. I can always chat to staff or ask a question, and now feel more confident in my understanding of her condition.”

All Time Out for Carers activities are held at our Bradbury Wellbeing Centre, a purpose-built environment located next to our specialist dementia care home, Haviland House.

If you’d like to find out more about how Guild Care’s community services could benefit you and your loved ones, or if you’d like to register your interest in becoming a member of Time Out For Carers, visit www.guildcare.org or call our friendly team on 01903 327327.