When pensioner Reg Linford walked into HomeCare Mellor’s Fulwood office seeking help, he could not not have imagined the response he would get. Reg was trying to get his wife of more than 60 years back home from residential dementia care and encountering huge resistance from a variety of agencies. Manager Sara McGaughey and her staff fought Reg and Chris’s corner – then when their campaign succeeded, recommended another care agency to look after Chris as Sara did not have sufficient staff. Reg stayed in touch and, after a hospital stay for Chris caused by a fall, he knew who to ask when she came home a second time. “Chris kept saying she wanted to go home, Reg wanted her home and this time we decided we could offer a support package. They had just over 12 months together and it was a great success,” said Sara. Reg, 89 and married for 66 years until Chris passed away in 2019, is rather less understated. “They gave me Chris back for a whole year. Nobody else could that, not even my MP. I don’t have the words to say how grateful I am.” Their care included a period of 24- hour support after Reg had a nasty fall and short stay in hospital and help when he was less able to care for Chris. Reg, now fully independent, still enjoys a weekly welfare visit. His story is just one example of the care offered by Sara and her experienced team at one of Blackburn’s and Preston’s longest established care providers. Inspections by the Care Quality Commission have consistently been good with no concerns. “You can find those reports online for everyone to see,” adds Sara.
HomeCare Mellor Ltd, founded by owner Jeanette Taylor in 1993, has grown rapidly in recent years with over 80 full and part-time staff caring for over 300 clients. They assist people who are elderly, have physical disabilities, learning difficulties or need palliative care. They work in partnership with the NHS and Lancashire County Council Social Services, for which they have been a preferred provider over many years. “We get fantastic feedback,” says Sara. “I’d say 99.9 per cent of people who use our services are satisfied.” Sara, who has 30 years of care experience, still provides care herself to monitor client satisfaction, and has worked as team manager for 13 years. All staff are DBS-checked and trained by deputy manager Jan Stephenson, who has worked in the NHS and social care, in conjunction with Preston and Runshaw colleges, Training is on-going to refresh staff’s skills and knowledge. Owner Jeanette aims to offer highly personalised, reliable and flexible care. “We have an excellent reputation as a provider and an employer,” she adds.
SERVICES
- Personal care: getting up and putting to bed, help with bathing, toileting/continence care
- Pop-in service: Coffee/tea, pressure care relief and more
- Home maintenance: Most general jobs, cleaning, gardening
- Domestic help: housework, shopping, laundry/washing/ironing
- Medication: Assist under the guidance of your GP
- Meals: Prepare and cook
- Respite care: Day/evening sitting, overnight sleeping
- Holiday cover/help: including help in Tenerife
- Plus: Palliative care, learning difficulties and physical disabilities
