Residents at a Stockbridge care home are enjoying the perks of getting use out of a car which was originally intended to be used in the case of flooding emergencies.
Bield’s Stockbridge Care Home was provided with a contingency car when work began on the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme, with the intention it could be used to help evacuate residents quickly should flooding occur. Fortunately for the residents the car has not had to be used for any flooding problems but instead the staff have used it to take residents for special day trips and for medical appointments.
Kim Drysdale, manager at Stockbridge Care Home, said: “Originally the car was given to us so we could evacuate our service users quickly in case of any flooding from the Water of Leith which in the past has severely broken its banks after heavy rainfall.
“The Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme has fortunately prevented any cases of emergency and instead of just having the car sitting there without being used; we tried to think of different ways in which our service users could benefit from the transport.
“The car has been used for days out like canal trips and other activities. For example, earlier this year we had a service user who was unable to make a weekend trip with her social club, Pilton Elderly Project, due to them being unable to accommodate her wheelchair.
“But thanks to us having the contingency car we were able to take her on a two day holiday break to Oban which was a fantastic opportunity for her to feel independent by getting out and about to see the sites in Oban as she had never been before.”
In addition to offering assistance for recreational purposes, the car has been used for medical support for the service users who ages range from 60-90 years and have a diverse range of needs.
Kim added: “The car has been a massive help so far financially for our residents with them saving on travel costs for medical appointments to the hospital and doctor’s clinic as this can be expensive for them.
“Not only this but the nearest GP surgery is situated on a steep hill which would be physically impossible for the residents to reach so having this car has been a great advantage for them financially and mobility wise.”
Chief Executive Brian Logan said the innovative approach to available resources at Stockbridge Care Home typifies the approach Bield has made to improve the lives of people who use its services under its new inspirational statement: Free to Be.
He said: “This Free to Be commitment goes very much at the heart of what Bield is all about – letting people make their own choices about how they live their lives but being there to support them when they need it.
“Many older people still have ambition and drive and where we can we offer additional support to give them the freedom to do the things they love but which might otherwise be taken away without the right help and support.”
Bield – a registered charity – has grown from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness to become a major provider of a wide range of housing and services for around 15,000 people across 22 local authority areas.
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