In the UK, our health and social care work offers valuable time-limited support for individuals vulnerable to crisis. From people recovering from illness, surgery or an accident, to struggling with a life-changing event, Support at Home volunteers enable people to live as independently as they can at home, building trusting relationships and helping them to regain their confidence and well-being. Working closely with health and social services colleagues, volunteers can make the difference in preventing an admission to hospital or supporting a timely discharge home.
The aim of the Support at Home service is to place the person at the centre of what we do and help them get through a crisis by offering positive encouragement, practical help and emotional support, for a few days or for longer, depending on their needs.
Typical tasks include:
- Visiting the service user on their arrival home from hospital
- Keeping someone company for a few hours at a time
- Helping with practical tasks like shopping, collecting prescriptions and light meal preparation
- Sitting with the service user and relieving the relative or carer of continuous care
- Keeping paper records of contact and activities undertaken with the service user
