We continue to follow Covid-19 Government advice and whilst we haven’t been able to run our normal ‘planned’ respite service, we have offered emergency respite to all localities and have met lots of new people who, through different circumstances, have come into Oak Trees.
We have provided additional care hours to people in our supporting living service due to their day services closing and to help keep them safe and avoid unnecessary trips to the supermarket, we opened a ‘pop up’ shop in the conservatory at Oak Trees, where those in supporting living could come in a purchase basic larder and frozen goods. Batch cooking of meals meant that tenants could also purchase a home-cooked frozen meal.
Some of the people we support have been very creative doing arts and crafts, learning to cook, getting out the sewing machine (which they hadn’t done in a long time), going out for long walks in the woods and we even hired a private swimming pool for people in ‘bubbles’ to use.
Whilst the services have been disrupted, we have been keeping in touch by:
- 'FaceTiming' families.
- Sending out coronavirus related newsletters to inform people what to do to keep safe, particularly in relation to hygiene, safe use of PPE, social distancing etc.
- Meeting on 'TEAMS' with commissioners, social workers and other providers.
Oak Trees Respite facility offers short stays from one night to three weeks for adults with a learning difficulty, allowing their main carers or families to have a break.
During their stay, guests have the opportunity to make new friends, the chance to try new things and learn how to do things they haven't tried before in a safe and secure environment.
