Llanelli man regains confidence with Enablement Service

A Llanelli man has been singing the praises of Carmarthenshire’s Enablement Service, which he says has helped him get back on his feet.

79-year-old Peter Jones, of Old Castle Road, has received a package of home care following a lengthy stay at the town’s Prince Philip Hospital.
The retired steel industry worker had suffered a fall whilst on holiday.

He spent a month in a Spanish hospital, where unfortunately he suffered a heart attack and mild stroke, which led him to have a pacemaker fitted.
He was transferred to Llanelli by Air Ambulance, and stayed a further four months in hospital.

Sadly, during his hospital stay he lost his confidence, and so planning a safe discharge home for Mr Jones was mainly focused on building his confidence up in undertaking many tasks he was independent with before his hospital admission.

A team of Enablement Workers then visited Mr Jones at his home daily over a six-week period.
They helped him regain his confidence by encouraging and motivating him to become independent once again, by being able to wash and dress himself, make meals, and get in and out of bed safely.

Mr Jones has now been discharged from his package of care, and is able to look after himself at home.
“If it wasn’t for the carers coming in I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.

“I couldn’t have done without them – especially in the beginning because I could hardly walk. They’ve been very good to me.”

The Enablement Service is a free package of care which is provided in people’s own homes, for a maximum of six weeks, to support those who need help to regain independence, confidence and skills following a period of illness, disability, or loss of self-confidence.

Community enablement helps by supporting a return home from hospital or care home, and prevents unnecessary admissions to hospital or care.
Sheila Porter, Head of Integrated Services, said: “The service has been designed to support people to remain living safely in their own homes.

It promotes choice and quality of life by helping people to do as much as they can for themselves.
“We are constantly looking for feedback about how our care services are run, and are consistently told that people prefer to be supported in their own homes where they feel most comfortable.”

Source: Carmarthenshire Council