Services

General

Crossroads Lewis provides a Care Attendant service throughout the Island of Lewis.

The service is managed by a Manager who organises and reviews the care provided.  She is assisted by an Assistant Manager.

The service is provided to allow carers to have a break from their caring role (also called respite) or to provide care and support to someone living alone.  The cared-for person may be of any age and have any kind of disability or illness or health-related needs.

“Carers” are relatives or friends who provide care or support for someone.  Often this is essential to enable the cared-for person to continue to live at home.  However, for many carers, this can be stressful, and an added burden to their normal responsibilities.  Carers benefit from some respite – a break from caring – that allows them to rest or attend to other matters.  The Care Attendant Service, by substituting for the family carers, gives them a regular short break.

A Care Attendant provides care and support in the service user’s own home.  Generally, most care and support tasks that would otherwise have been done by a family carer can be done by the Care Attendant.  This includes personal care tasks.  It does not include tasks that should be carried out by a nurse or other healthcare professional.
Home visits may be for a short period or for a longer period depending on individual circumstances. Usually home visits are at the same time each week.

Core service

Most of our regular work is in our Core Service.  Following referral, the Manager arranges a home visit and makes a Care Assessment and a Risk Assessment.  If Crossroads Lewis can provide a service that meets the needs of the home, a day and time will be agreed for the service to begin. However, because of financial restraints we have to keep to firm criteria in allocating care and sometimes it may not be possible to offer a service.

Sometimes, it may be that another agency would best meet these needs and the home is then offered a referral to that agency.

Palliative service

Originally set up in 2003 with 3-year funding from Macmillan Cancer Support, this service is now funded by NHS Western Isles and has broadened to include other terminal illnesses in addition to cancer.

However, we still work closely with the local Macmillan Nurse Team and, through referral from them or through G.P.s or Community Nurses we provide support, often overnight, in end-of-life situations where individuals wish to remain at home.

Respite

Health or Social Work may ask us to do home-based respite (varying in length from some hours to several days) in specific situations. 

This is by spot-purchase and has to be with the agreement of either Health Board or Social Work.

Development aims

We have identified specific areas of need, e.g. Short Respite Breaks (24 hour cover for 2 to 3 nights) and are pursuing funding to enable us to give support in these areas.