They are enthusing about their friend Edith Crompton, 76, who lives in a retirement home in Standish. She’s a popular resident there and gathers a couple of dozen friends each week to call bingo for them, part of the home’s busy programme of entertainment.
But it could all have been very different. Edith told us how she felt after she came back from a spell in hospital. She said: “I was saying to myself, the easiest way out is not to take my medication. I was really down in the dumps and I didn’t know who would help me.”
Edith, a former social worker herself, gave a huge smile and said: “But then the girls came! They didn’t make me do anything, they asked me would I like to do it.”
‘The girls’ are dedicated officers in the council’s Reablement Team. They’re a highly skilled group of women and men who help people to regain their independent living skills and restore their dignity. Everyone entering social care services will go through this scheme.
Rita Forbes from the team said: “By enabling people, we are giving them confidence and skills for life. And they are less likely to be dependent on services for the future.”
Edith came on in leaps and bounds with a phased programme of visits from the team.
Edith added: “I never thought I’d get this far! I thought I’d be dead.”
There’s no higher praise. And Rita added: “Edith is an inspiration. She’s come from a bad place and shown that independence can be regained. We’re here to make that happen.”
Reablement is a short-term free service lasting up to six weeks, for people 18 and over living in the borough who need support to live in their own homes independently.
To get the reablement service, you first need to have an intial assessment of your care needs.
For more information you can visit Wigan Council’s 'reablement' pages or call the council’s Reablement Team on 01942 487904.
