Today I took someone to a garden centre. Post hip replacement, walking with two crutches makes a lot of things harder. We stopped off to deliver a letter which involved uneven ground and some steps and then went off to the garden centre to research plants for the garden. The sun was shining and the sky was blue and it was a great day to be out. She wouldn't have had the confidence to get out on the crutches without some company…

I have one client who relies on me for every trip to tescos and the doctors and the dentist. Not just for the transport for the organising, the remembering and moral support. She doesn't like to talk to people who she doesn't know so I am largely in charge of doing the talking and reassurance in general. Anxiety isn't always easily understood or tolerated but we have worked together over the last few months to make life a bit easier for her. This has been through creating regular routines and talking about mindfulness and anti anxiety techniques. Small changes can make a big difference. A lot of things that seemed impossible six months ago are possible now. This week she gave me some daffodils to say thank you and that was lovely

My certificate in the Principles of Care Planning has just arrived. I took this qualification last year to make sure that I was aware of the best practice around caring for people.

It was interesting to see how care planning has changed over the years since I started supporting people and to learn new ways of supporting people to have more control over their lives and how to bring about the postive change that is needed to help people to stay living independently but also happily and confidently.

I am delighted to have been featured in this month's Hartley Wintney, Hook & Villages magazine. Companionship care is about having someone to talk to and to support you in any daily activities where it would be helpful to have someone at your side. This might be a medical appointment or just getting out about. Maybe some help with the shopping or sorting out your house or garden. Companionship care can include almost anything that isn't medical or personal care. Everyone has slightly different needs and I am happy to have a chat with you first so you can get to me before you make any decisions. I am happy to be able to help in any way that makes life a bit easier or a bit happier

It seems that it can be useful to have a non family member to talk to sometimes. It also seems useful to the family to have someone on hand to be their local backup when they live some distance away.

Today I was presented with a choice of ingredients and decided to make pasta bake with bacon and tomatoes with cheese on top. While I was cooking she told me stories from her youth. She made me laugh and nearly cry. I love hearing the stories of people's long lives.

Sometimes there is a part of our house that gets designated as “The place to put stuff”. Sometimes the stuff starts to pile up until it becomes a bit overwhelming. I think we have all been here to some extent. The time when the pile of filing piles up so high that there has to be another pile. Or maybe the laundry doesn’t get put away until it is all out of season so it just stays there. Or the airing cupboard becomes the place to put the things that no one wants but no one wants to throw away. Whatever the reason, sometimes things don’t get put away and seem to attract other things that don’t get put away and then it becomes a bit much.

Sometimes we just need some support to help to get on top of things, a bit of support can go a long way towards getting things done and making things easier and happier.

Various aspects of medical appointments can be challenging. This week Hook Home Help has been providing moral support and transport for blood tests and other medical appointments.

Sometimes it is easier to have someone to book appointments for you and you might like someone to take you there.

Sometimes it's nice to have someone who will stay with you and help you find face masks and to support you to answer the questions or remind you of what you wanted to ask.

Sadly Hook Home Help spends quite a lot of time undoing the work of zealous telesales people. This involves cancelling unwanted contracts as soon as possible and doing as much damage limitation as possible. It is easy for anyone to be scammed.

I will help to read the small print, I will hang on as long as required to get an answer and ideally get the phone number removed from the list or insist that they must speak to me or another family member in the future.

Having support with the small stuff can make life easier. Sometimes the post can seem overwhelming. It can be hard to read or hard to understand. It can pile up and become too hard to start.

I am happy to support people to deal with mountains of post, however high the mountain might be.

I will phone salespeople and cancel unwanted contracts and deal with any misunderstandings. … See more

When M came out of hospital her family knew that she would need some support. They had had a bad experience with support previously and were looking for someone who they could trust. M was suffering from anxiety and it was important to have the same person come every day. This continuity has allowed the family to know that she is in safe hands and to know that there is someone there to make sure that she is managing practically and emotionally.

At first, they were unsure as to how much or what sort of support she would need but we soon developed a routine to help her to get back on track.

After a long stay in hospital, many daily tasks seemed overwhelming but having someone with her has enabled her to deal with the practical aspects of living at home such as food shopping, getting prescriptions, the post, changing the bed and some cleaning and decluttering. The family have been grateful to have someone to manage the many medical appointments both in terms of diary management, taking her there and being there for moral support. Read more here...