The Department of Social Welfare of the Arrecife City Council has launched the Family Respite service, a program designed to offer support to those non-professional caregivers who continuously care for users of the Home Help Service. This service begins operating this Monday, September 2, with the aim of providing a vital break for caregiving families and improving care for dependent people in their usual environment.
“The Family Respite Service is a response to the urgent need to alleviate the daily burden of non-professional caregivers, who play a fundamental role in the care of dependent people,” says Councilor Maite Corujo. "With this program, we seek not only to support these families, but also to improve the quality of life of users of the Home Help Service, delaying or even avoiding their admission to residential centers," adds the councilor.
The service will offer a package of 300 hours per year that will be distributed among the selected families, providing a respite that allows them to maintain their social and family relationships. Among the tasks that professionals will perform during the absence of family caregivers include accompaniment on walks, help with personal hygiene, administration of food and active companionship, among others.
"We want to ensure that home care remains a viable and quality option for families who need it. This service not only favors the mental and emotional health of caregivers, but also ensures that dependent people receive the best possible care in a family environment," says Corujo, who highlights that "we are going to dedicate a precious time to leisure and entertainment; with conversations, board games, healthy walks, etc., as long as the physical conditions of the users allow it."
For this first phase, 20 families from the Home Help Service have been selected who meet the established technical criteria, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.
The service will be provided in the afternoon, coinciding with the time of day when families find it most difficult to reconcile caring for their loved ones with other responsibilities. With this initiative, the Social Welfare Area of the Arrecife City Council reaffirms its commitment to the well-being of families and the continuous improvement of social services in the municipality.
