I started in care when I was 18, going out in the community with a care agency and thoroughly enjoying the work I did. It was trying work but very rewarding, not financially, but from the buzz you get knowing you have helped someone and helped to make a portion of their life better.
I had been working with the care agency for a number of years when my Nan became ill with dementia. Most council-run day centres had closed down and agencies were charging close to £20 an hour to come and sit with her, which wasn’t what I wanted because even this still left her socially isolated from her friends and the community.
After a lot of thought, I decided I should open my own day centre, as after all, I had all the knowledge and training in care to do so and I wanted to be able to offer a non-institutionalised, exceptionally caring environment with knowledgeable & compassionate staff.
This had to be somewhere where the costs were kept low and affordable, as I believe all care should be free but as this is impossible, I vowed to do everything I could to get as much funding as possible for everyone from Social Services and let everyone know about all the benefits they are entitled to, to help them get the best possible care they can.
There is nowhere that offers information about what everybody can claim when they suddenly get the devastating diagnosis of dementia and that is another passion of mine, to stay on top of what can be claimed and all the different activities and places to go in the area for people with dementia and other disabilities. I am a member of the local dementia action alliance and found knowledge and communication is needed in all these areas within the community to provide a better service for people, especially in a time in their lives where they need support the most.
It was very hard work, but with the help of previous colleagues and family, I got myself registered at Company House. It took 6 months to find somewhere suitable to start the business off. The first two years were the most difficult, but I kept going as I had a strong vision, knowing I could succeed.
An old barn was just right to start off the business. As we grew, it became a home from home with most members not wanting to go home as they really enjoy their days with us, taking part in games, exercises and singing and enjoying home cooked food for lunch. The staff have been handpicked and are genuine, caring and good listeners and I have given them the best training I could, all from the best training providers I could get. Most of the staff either have, or are working towards their Health and Social Care level 5, which I know will then enable us to go from strength to strength.
All the staff are intensely trained in Dementia but due to the lack of day centres anywhere we have members with Parkinson’s, MS, Sensory Impairments and other disabilities too.
I am very happy with the decision I made to start my own business and I know I’m helping to cut down social isolation, keeping many people out of care homes and helping our members to live their lives as fully and happily as they can.
I now have two centres with waiting lists and have recently started franchising as I want to see everyone get the same care as we give, making new friends, enriching all their lives and making their home life better for everyone, as having a fun-filled day within our community hopefully means a better sleeping pattern and better relationships with loved ones.
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