Help at Home Case Study - Mr Mitchelson

Mr Mitchelson of Long Eaton was referred to the Help at Home service back in 2009 by his Social Worker. Michael sadly lost his wife at the end of 2008 and due to poor mobility was starting to find daily tasks at home increasingly difficult.

The aim of the Help at Home project is to enable elderly and disabled people in Amber Valley and Erewash to live independently in their own homes by providing domestic and gardening support. The workers carry out tasks which many of us have undertaken in the past but are no longer able to do due to age, disability or illness. All workers receive an ongoing training program and are CRB checked.

Michael has two domestic workers who visit him twice a week for a total of three and a half hours. Jo visits on a Tuesday and helps with various tasks such as making the bed, putting the washing on and cleaning the kitchen. Karen visits on a Friday and shops, hoovers and cleans the bathrooms.

Michael said of Karen and Jo “The ladies radiate goodwill, I think the world of them and the service, it is excellent, I would be lost without it”.

Michael has four children and nine grandchildren. One of his daughters lives locally and is often on hand to help. Michael said “I see a lot of my daughter and she is extremely supportive. This service is a great benefit to her as it means that she doesn’t have to help with the cleaning!”.

Although Michael has poor mobility he is still able to cook for himself and keeps himself entertained making cards, listening to Dolly Parton, following Nottingham Forest Football Club of which he is a huge fan. He also uses his mobility scooter for visits to his local fish and chip shop. Michael also visits the Parklands Day Centre twice a week.

Michael said “I would highly recommend the Help at Home service, it is a lot more than a cleaning service. I have built up a good relationship with the ladies and enjoy having a chat with them and seeing them weekly”.

Help at Home Case Study - Meet Mrs Olive Kirk…………

We recently visited Olive Kirk who lives in Erewash to find out her views on the benefits of receiving the Help at Home domestic support on a weekly basis. This visit was planned at a time when Ruth, Olive’s domestic worker, and Carole her daughter were present so we could gain the views of all concerned.

Olive uses the Erewash Help at Home Domestic Service weekly. She has just celebrated her 90th birthday and, being partially sighted and deaf, quite understandably finds daily tasks at home increasingly difficult.

Olive usually uses the Help at Home service, on a Wednesday when Ruth cleans her home from top to bottom, changes bed sheets and occasionally gives the curtains a wash. Carole, Olive’s daughter said “It’s not easy for mum to look after the house. I used to do all her cleaning but now with Ruth’s help I am able spend more quality time with mum.”

Olive said “Ruth is excellent; where possible I always have Ruth as I have built up a great relationship with her. I look forward to seeing her each week”.

Olive is quick to assure us that, although her eyesight is deteriorating and she needs a stick to walk, she still cooks and makes the weekly trip to her hairdressers in the village where she has been going for the past 28 years.

Carole tends to do her mum’s weekly food shopping for her but whenever she is away Ruth is able to offer this support for Olive.

Carole said “Ruth is fantastic, she will often leave notes for me on what mum is short of. Ruth gives me the peace of mind that mum is being well looked after. When I go away it is a great reassurance to know that the Help at Home service is here and Ruth is able to do mum’s shopping”.

At the end of each visit, Ruth requires a signature from Olive on her paperwork. As Olive is partially sighted, this is not always easy. Ruth and Olive have created a system of using a torch on the paperwork which makes this job easier for Olive as well.

Olive quoted “Having Ruth here gives Carole a day off each week”

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