Categories

Gardening and horticulture, Health and wellbeing including therapies, Help in the home or garden, Hobbies and interests, Personal care, Socialising, companionship and friendship, Support for carers,

My name is Emma Hurford and I am a Qualified Health Care Professional.  If you need some care or support, or your carer needs a supporting hand, I can offer a wide range of services and supports to help you live well which I hope you will enjoy reading about below.  Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more about how I can work with you or your loved one.  References are available for your peace of mind.

Individually Tailored Services

I understand how illness and disability can impact on daily life, independence, confidence and self -esteem.  At the heart of everything I do is empowering people and providing a personalised, individual service.  Putting YOU in the driving seat!

My Background and Experience

I have a farming background and am still well connected to my rural roots.  In fact, I can still be seen in a pair of muddy wellies on a daily basis!   Somewhere along the lines I decided I wanted to work with people and I trained as a qualified Health Care Professional at the University of Plymouth.

Summary of Services

I can offer the following to name but a few. I am versatile and adaptable by nature and always open to suggestions:

• Help and Support at Home – cleaning, shopping, meals, gardening, sorting out paperwork, filling forms
• Escorting Out – appointments, go for walks, coffee, shopping
• Daytime Activities – enjoying your hobbies and interests
• Health and Well-being – regain your independence and confidence
• Personal Care and Support
• Carer Support at Home and Relief Cover – rest assured your loved one will be enjoying personalised, 1 to 1 activities while you are out.

I understand how difficult it can be to accept help for things you have previously managed all your life.  Similarly, you may need some help on suddenly finding yourself responsible for tasks that in the past were taken care of by someone else.  Rest assured I can provide as much or as little help as you decide and am more than happy to work on tasks together.  In fact, I will need your guidance on how you like things done and what measures up to your standards!  I can adapt my service to everyone’s needs.

I can provide practical help and assistance with the following:

• Gardening
• Cleaning
• Spring Cleaning
• Rubbish disposal
• Ironing and Laundry
• Shopping
• Meals
• Pets and Dog Walking
• Sorting and Organising
• Filling in forms
• Putting paperwork in order
• Using the computer – e.g. emails, internet, word

Escorting Out

I can enable you to feel at ease and enjoy doing a whole host of things out and about. This may include:

-Appointments              -Shopping          -Going for Coffee          -Walking      -Sports and Fitness

-Visiting Friends                 -Visiting Places of interest                -Attending Groups

Daytime Activities – Support with Hobbies and Interests

I consider that you are the expert in your chosen hobby or interest; be it something you enjoy in or out of the home.  What I can do is to enable you to overcome your difficulties without completely taking over.  I understand that often it is simply one or two aspects of a task that you may need support with.  Other times it may be adapting to a slightly different way of doing things or a simple piece of equipment (improvised or otherwise) that can make all the difference.  I can help you problem solve and experiment to regain your confidence and independence with any of the following to name but a few:

• Cooking
• Baking
• Gardening
• Arts and Crafts
• Using the computer
• Model making

Health and Well-being – Regaining your Independence and Confidence

I understand how it can be easy to lose your independence and confidence.  This could be following illness, disability, anxiety, depression, period of hospital admission to name but a few.  I will discuss with you what you would like to achieve and break this down into a series of realistic goals.  This may include:

• Mobility
• Assisting you to practice ongoing exercises, techniques, strategies given to you by a health professional (e.g. physiotherapy, breathing techniques)
• Going out
• Socialising
• Going to groups
• Cooking
• Shopping
• Housework
• Hobbies and Interests

Personal Care and Support

I can support and assist you with your personal care needs.  I understand how difficult it can be to accept help with such personal tasks.  You decide how much or how little help you need.  Rest assured discretion, your dignity, safety and well-being are my top considerations.

I can assist with washing, dressing, bathing / shower, applying creams and using the toilet.

Carer Support at Home and Relief Cover

I am able to support you at home with caring for your loved one:

·         In practical ways by taking care of housework, meal preparation and garden maintenance for example.

·         Relief care cover in your absence or if you would like some uninterrupted time at home.

·         Preparing meals, assisting with mobility, personal care and toileting needs.

·         I will work with both of you to discuss suitable personalised, 1 to 1 activities for your loved one, interspersed with rest periods.

Relief Cover for carers

You may need to attend an appointment, do some shopping, attend a club or group, go for a walk to name a few.  Rest assured your loved one will be safe and well cared for.  As a qualified Health Care Professional I have experience of a wide range of physical, mental and cognitive health problems including Parkison’s disease and Dementia / Alzheimer’s.  I have worked in Adult Social Care, Mental Health Inpatient and Community and Stroke Rehabilitation.  This means you can go out with peace of mind.

Rest assured your loved one will be enjoying personalised, 1 to 1 activities in your absence.  This could be both in or out of the home. It could include any of the following to name but a few:

• Chatting and Companionship
• Reading
• Games and puzzles
• Crafts
• Singing
• Going out for coffee, walks, attending groups, visiting friends
• Using the computer

Last Updated: 29th August, 2018