Comply Direct help 'Hospital from Home' project

13 March 2012

A CHARITY project that eases elderly people back into home life after a spell in hospital has been safeguarded – thanks to a big-hearted Skipton business.

The much-needed support from Comply Direct, based at Broughton Hall, will enable the Home From Hospital scheme to continue offering a lifeline to people living alone.

The initiative helps with everything from benefits guidance and restarting any home care; to making sure houses are safe, and that gas, electric and water supplies are in working order.

It is designed to make the return home as smooth as possible for older and vulnerable people living in Bradford and Craven, with no close family or support, after their discharge from Airedale Hospital.

As part of their welcome home, patients receive a hamper of food basics plus help to complete a simple safety checklist from one of the friendly volunteers involved in the project, which is now run by the award-winning charity Carers’ Resource.

It stepped in to manage the project last year after a lack of funding put its future at risk. Since then, the charity has managed to attract more volunteers plus sponsorship from Comply Direct – creating a platform for the scheme to relaunch. “Going home from hospital can be both an exciting and a daunting prospect for some elderly people who live alone,” said the Skipton and Bradford charity’s Head of Development, Anna Jackson. “This scheme means nobody will have to arrive home to a cold, dark empty house on their own – instead they will be made to feel confident and comfortable about being back home.
“We are grateful for Comply Direct’s financial support in giving the project a new lease of life. But we need others in the community to follow their lead if the scheme is to survive and flourish in the long-term.” “It is a very popular initiative – and it would leave a big gap in our elderly community if it wasn’t there. We stay in contact with people for six weeks following their discharge from hospital and help them stay safe and well.”
Each hamper contains a selection of items to enable people to have one or two simple meals and hot drinks without having to worry about going shopping.

Gareth Roberts, Managing Director of Comply Direct, which helps companies meet their legal requirements under various environmental legislation, said: “Comply Direct is a local company based at Broughton Hall Business Park and we wanted to help a charity whose roots are also in this community and whose work makes a real difference to people’s lives. Our business has achieved enough growth over the past few years for us to now be able to give something back and this project is one of a number of initiatives we have put in place for 2012. We had heard excellent things about the Carers’ Resource and we are delighted to have been able to support this particular project.”

Anyone who wants to help the scheme, either in terms of sponsorship or by joining its team of volunteers, should contact the Carers’ Resource on 01756 693666.

Source: Carers' Resource