‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’ is today’s World Mental Health Day theme
As the world marks World Mental Health Day today, home care technology company CareLineLive shares how its software helps My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks to support its carers’ mental health and wellbeing.
My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks is a domiciliary care agency providing care for people in their own homes. Its 53 clients are aged between 18-102 with a range of conditions. The agency is keen to highlight the challenges that come in supporting clients with mental health care requirements.
One of the agency’s clients, for anonymity purposes called ‘John’, requires attention beyond the remit of his official care package, including significantly lengthy call times and in person sessions. My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks has a group of five or six carers that support John. The full on nature of the work and constant support required can affect the mental health of the carers.
“There is a lack of awareness of the toll, both mental and financial, that this has on us, but we have to keep on going. We just can’t give up on him [John] or any of our clients,” says Peju Akintomide, Managing Director of My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks.
CareLineLive has provided My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks with the tools to manage the tasks involved and ease the workload. For example, through CareLineLive’s Carer Compatibility function, the agency is able to note which carers John likes in particular. This helps to support both the carers and the client. Matching carers and clients who are compatible is a key factor in safeguarding mental health wellbeing.
“Before CareLineLive, we were using another system and paper – a kind of halfway house,” Peju continued. “CareLineLive is much better from a cost perspective. Its features have helped speed up processes, monitor client care and help us provide the support needed for both clients and staff alike.”
Josh Hough, founder and MD of CareLineLive, commented: “We applaud My Homecare Herts, Beds and Bucks for its commitment to John and its work as a whole. We know the strain this kind of work can have on carers. We also know that they are not paid for the additional demands, just the scheduled hours of direct care, with perhaps two hours of unpaid phone calls each day. By working together, our aim is to help provide any support we can to make their lives easier, more efficient and, ultimately, to encourage greater conversations and support for the mental health of both staff and the care of patients.”
If you’d like to find out more about CareLineLive, please visit: https://carelinelive.com.au/