COVID-19: Community-led Care and Wellbeing in Rural Perthshire

Members of the Care and Wellbeing Co-operative have urged anyone who has any concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak and the impact it may have on their care to get in touch.

The Perthshire-based group of self-employed professionals, carers, therapists and wellbeing specialists helps provide care, support and activities to people living in rural areas.

Working alongside local communities, the Health and Social Care Partnership, private care providers and voluntary sector groups the Care and Wellbeing Co-op aims to support people to lead the life they want in their local community. Established in 2015, the Co-op particularly strives to support older people and those with additional needs and health problems.

They also aim to create and support a network of micro-businesses and social enterprises delivering a range of services within the care and wellbeing sectors in a variety of different ways.

Members of the co-op offer a wide variety of services including respite support, community care, independent living solutions, befriending, sports massage, counselling, stress management, herbal medicine and therapeutic gardening.

Olivia Robertson from Alyth-based 'The Home Straight', which offers independent living solutions for older people, is a director of the Care and Wellbeing Co-op.

She said: “The coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic raises a number of concerns for many of us working in the care and wellbeing profession.

“The fast-moving situation is developing on an almost hour-by-hour basis and while no one knows to what extent it will affect our daily lives it is important to follow advice and guidelines and do what we can to minimise any impact it may have both on ourselves and on those we provide care and services to.

“The Care and Wellbeing Coop is here to help and do what we can to support you. 

“As part of this we have added a Covid-19 section to the resources part of our website which has links to various up-to-date relevant public body information on the situation.

“It also contains a link to the advice we are providing for our members and our clients.

“Our commitment to offering a community-led approach to the provision of rural care and wellbeing and work towards helping our clients find the best solutions to their care and wellbeing needs remains unchanged and is more vital than ever in the current circumstances.”

The Care and Wellbeing Cooperative is also supporting its members to look after their own wellbeing as well as that of those around them.

Co-operative director Anneke Kraakman is a Shiatsu therapist and bio-dynamic gardener based in Aberfeldy.

She added: “When we are busy caring for others, it can sometimes be easy to forget to look after ourselves.

“However, it is more important than ever to stay positive and to take care of yourself by boosting your immune system.

“There are a number of steps you can take to this, including ensuring you eat healthily and get enough sleep, supplementing your diet with vitamins, particularly vitamins A, D and C, and zinc, staying connected with others either online or on the telephone and taking time for yourself and self-care activities that you enjoy.

“It is also important to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and clients.

“We hope that by following some or all of these recommendations, you will be able to look after yourself and continue to provide the same level of professional care for your clients as before.

“Together we can get through this.”

Anyone who has any concerns that they would like to talk to someone about can contact the Care and Wellbeing Coop by emailing hello@thecareandwellbeing.coop.

For further information on the Care and Wellbeing Co-operative, please check their website.