One of Lanarkshire's most iconic buildings will light up yellow today to mark national Home Care Day.
The occasion celebrates the way home carers light up people's lives and recognises the vital and ongoing contribution they make to locals.
Later this evening, Hamilton Town House will be illuminated in yellow to pay tribute to the more than 2000 home carers in South Lanarkshire.
The dedicated staff carry out more than 60,000 visits per week to around 3500 service users.
Buildings across the country are being lit up to mark national Home Care Day (September 22) as gratitude is shown to these vital frontline staff.
Soumen Sengupta, Director of Health and Social Care for South Lanarkshire, said: “We are proud to participate in this national day of awareness by lighting up this local landmark.
“Every single day, home care staff work ceaselessly to improve the lives of the individuals they care for.
“They, in common with all our social care and health care teams, continue to deliver for all of us.
“On behalf of everyone in South Lanarkshire, I’d like to offer our heartfelt thanks for our home carers’ dedication, compassion and professionalism.”
South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Scott McNeill, who is the Service Manager for Registered Care at Home Services, said the illumination was fitting.
He added: “The term ‘pillars of our community’ springs to mind, as our home carers are a solid, unfailing support for so many people.
“To light up one of the area’s most prominent buildings, especially as the nights draw in, seems an appropriate way of recognising they way they brighten up so many lives.”
The Care at Home service provides essential support to enable people to live as independently as possible in their own homes, offering support that includes washing, dressing, preparing food or getting ready for bed.
All staff are also trained to give more personal assistance such as help with medication.
Carol Stewart, who has worked as a Home Carer for 16 years says it's the personal side of the job which brings such value to it.
She explained : “The physical aspects, actually doing things for people that they can’t manage for themselves is not only vital, but it’s really rewarding as well. But you learn as soon as you start doing the job that there has to be a personal side, too.
“You build up good relationships with the service-users, and there is a tremendous amount of trust shared between you.
“You get to know their personal preferences, not just their needs, and that is vital to being a real benefit to their lives.
“I always think that we should treat everyone we visit like we would want people to treat our own mums and dads or grans and grandads, and when you get that wee smile, that’s all you need to know you’re doing a good thing."
South Lanarkshire HSCP has its own workforce of 1000 Care at Home staff who, along with another 1000-plus Care at Home staff from independent providers, collectively deliver services every day of the year, with at least 60,000 visits each week to support more than 3500 service users.
South Lanarkshire HSCP is currently recruiting new home carers, meaning that a number of flexible opportunities exist for people wishing to work in this challenging and rewarding environment.
You can find out more here.
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