Support at Home

Jack and John at Devizes parkMemory loss does not have to result in social isolation. Our trained support workers help people to enjoy social contact and to continue to pursue their interests. They also provide a break to family carers by taking over caring responsibilities for a few hours each week..

Our Home and Community Support Service (HACSS) is run by four care co-ordinators, based in Trowbridge/Bradford on Avon, Warminster/Westbury, Devizes/Melksham and Marlborough/Pewsey. The care co-ordinators stay in close contact with families and offer advice and support throughout their dementia journey.

Each care co-ordinator has a team of specialist staff who help to support people with dementia in their homes. The support worker is trained to understand how memory problems can affect life and relationships and is carefully matched to the client. Subject to availability, they can arrange to come at any time of the day or evening, and on any day of the week.  

Everyone’s needs and interests are different, but they could provide:

  • Companionship and conversation at home
  • Support to continue with a favourite hobby or pastime
  • Social trips out eg to a garden centre, library, walks, coffee in town
  • Practical help eg to accompany shopping trips or hairdressing appointments
  • Help to collect pensions or pay bills
  • An opportunity to talk

If you would like to use the service or find out more about it please contact the care co-ordinator for your area.

Westbury and Warminster:
Gill Frere-Smith at
Shearwater Lodge, Warminster
tel 01985 211888 or  07800 779808
email gillfs@alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk

Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon:
Jackie Ransome at
Charterhouse, Trowbridge
tel  01225 762036 or 07906 308193  
email jackier@alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk

Devizes and Melksham
Anna Spear at  
Green Lane Hospital, Devizes
tel: 01380 731363 or 07791 723353  
email annas@alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk

Marlborough and Pewsey
Gaynor Mapp at
Sidmouth St, Devizes tel 01380 739055 or 07936 540096email gaynorm@alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk

Charges

We have to charge for the service as our support workers are professionals and we pay for their training, transport and insurance.

  • We charge £11 per hour for clients who are privately funding care
  • For clients in receipt of Carers Direct Payments or Service Users Direct Payments the charge is £14.50 per hour
  • For all clients there is a small charge for social mileage (currently 40p per mile)
  • If you qualify, you may be entitled to Carers Grant which would allow you to receive up to 8 hours per month free of charge
  • You may also be entitled to financial aid, so please ask your care co-ordinator about this

Our Home and Community Support Service is inspected by the Care Quality Commission. To see the latest reports go to www.cqc.org.uk

What They Say:

  • “Jackie’s visits are the highlight of my mother’s week. She has also been extremely supportive of me and my sister and willing to chat on the phone if ever we call.”
  • “Tony has been so good with my husband and has become a friend to us both.”
  • “Wally has made such a difference to life for my husband and myself. As soon as he started taking him out or sitting in, I knew things would get better. He is professional, knowledgeable and has a happy personality — and we are both pleased to call him our friend.”
  • “Lynne has untold patience and tolerance. When my mum collapsed in the local Co-op Lynne didn’t hesitate to go to the hospital with her to make sure everything was okay.”
  • “Mary has shown outstanding commitment to my mother’s welfare — my mother calls her ‘her rock’. I have a big part of the burden taken off me. And she does it with wisdom and humour.”
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Working Together:

Alzheimer's Society / Leading the fight against dementia Carers in Wiltshire Avon and Wiltshire / Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Wiltshire Council / Where everybody matters