Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

48 12.10 Respite care is a very valuable resource for families and carers, many themselves older and in need of their own help and support (physical or emotional). There is little evidence of low cost respite care available locally for people with dementia or other conditions mainly affecting those in older age. A private care home in Clacton provides day care support and a cognitive programme for up to 6 users for £60 per day on some weekdays, another dementia specialty home in Jaywick Sands is planning on providing day time cognitive development sessions for non residents (likely cost unknown), a day centre, attached to a residential home, in Harwich offers day care for £45 per day for older people and people with dementia (they report that they have plenty of space to accommodate more people) but there is little else, particularly at low cost; residential respite can cost users upwards of £800 per week if they do not qualify for financial support. Some residential homes do have daily sessions open to non-residents but dementia sufferers would need to be accompanied by their carer. 12.11 For those caring for people with dementia, there are three new admiral nurses working in North East Essex whose role is primarily to support carers. 12.12 Stakeholders suggest that an opportunity may exist for developing low cost respite care in conjunction with charities and some of the district's residential homes for people with learning disability or dementia. They have facilities and trained staff to care for people, and it might be possible to develop short occasional daytime sessions. The Alzheimer's Society has offered to talk to groups to provide information, and raise awareness and understanding. 13 FINDINGS 13.1 The mapping exercise was undertaken on a geographic basis corresponding with the 3 defined areas of Tendring District. There are some very specific issues which emerged in some wards in Tendring but overall it was found that there is sufficient congruity across the Tendring area to allow overarching findings below to be reported in terms of current and potential service provision. 13.2 This report reflects the complex range of issues affecting residents of all ages, economic fortunes and health status across each of the 3 geographic areas in Tendring. Findings focus on how existing and potential community services might be shaped for better impact, acknowledging that there is not one single solution and that success is more likely where statutory, voluntary and community services complement one another across the whole system. 13.3 General Observations, which cover a range of Living Well categories 13.3.1 The stakeholder sessions held in each of the 3 geographic areas (West, East and South Tendring) revealed interesting perspectives across a wide range of participants and informed some of the comment in this report. Early findings were presented to them, seeking comments and feedback on the emerging issues. Participants were asked what might help them improve or expand services, and what they might need in the way of resources or support from others to do this. Many in Clacton, and the South and East areas, reported that CVST is a very good source of advice and support to them, and usually their first port of call in terms of finding out what help exists and how they might work with others. Many said that they found the stakeholder sessions and the structured conversations themselves of use in terms of finding out what is available and helping build partnerships. Theme-based focus groups on specific issues may be a good way forward to facilitate sharing of ideas and pooling of resources and information. 13.3.2 There is concern among stakeholders and providers of some activities that new volunteers are not coming forward and activities may stop as a result. Some report that it is the same few people trying to run multiple services, leading to volunteer fatigue. However,