Community care services will continue to support people to be independent and able to live at home in the community.
As well as sheltered housing, there are a small number of very sheltered housing properties in Shetland which have on-site care and support available up to 24 hours per day. These properties are at King Erik House and Annsbrae House in Lerwick and Brucehall Terrace in Unst. To be considered for this type of accommodation, a comprehensive assessment has to be carried out, through the With You For You process for anyone applying from Shetland.
The Bruce Hall Terrace Extra Care Housing Service in Unst provides supported accommodation to eight people to enable them to stay at home in their community, with one member of staff on duty at all times.
In the latest Health and Social Care Partnership Planning and Performance Update, two case studies were included to provide some additional narrative around service delivery and give context to the suite of data and performance indicators provided.
Resident
After my husband died I knew I needed to move on to somewhere new. I was left alone in a big house with fields on every side, so no neighbours close by. My family wanted me to stay in the house for a while but I needed to move on. I wanted to know there was someone nearby if I needed them, but I didn’t need a care home or anything like that – Bruce Hall seemed perfect and there was a space for me.
I have my own space, I can have all my own things around me, I get meals on wheels, and I know the staff are around if I need someone. They pop in to check on me, but I mostly manage fine myself.
It is like a community here – I’ve got to know some of my neighbours quite well since I’ve been here, we’ll ring and check on each other, or I’ll go round on finer days when I can manage.
Family
My dad has been here at Bruce Hall for a few years. He has Alzheimer’s and he’d been starting to struggle at home after my mam passed away. Being in the big house with all of their old things made it harder for him to cope after she died – it was confusing for him being surrounded by all these things, but without mam there.
It was a difficult time – I knew he wasn’t managing at home, and he needed support, but he wouldn’t have managed well in residential care, he was so able otherwise and it would have been confusing all the coming and going, not having his own space he was so used to.
When the place came up at Bruce Hall I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about it, but it’s closer for me for visiting, so I think I convinced him he was doing me a favour. We took some time moving his things in and I think it helped him move on, getting out of the old house, but still having his things around him. He’s a really practical, busy person so it was great moving into his own place, having neighbours around him. He helped doing some repairs and painting the fences, and got to know his neighbour, helping her hang out her washing as she was less able. It really helped him to have a purpose, to be useful to other people even when he was needing a bit of care and support. That really helped him settle in.
Now we don’t have to worry so much about that side of things. I can come and visit whenever I want, and just be with my dad, sing songs and play music, it’s been the best option for all of us. He is needing a bit more support now since his condition is getting worse, but I’m able to work with carers to work out what he needs and the best way to do that – he still has the independence of his own place, just with some extra help when he needs it.