Our experience over many years has highlighted the value of good quality, flexible and available respite care for sufferers and their families. The new government funding initiative, which enables individuals to source their own care packages, does not, on many occasions, achieve its aim as the facilities sought are often unavailable for purchase. We therefore regard incorporating the market need into the strategic planning of our service as good practice.

Accessible and flexible respite care can often prevent "a crisis" and the consequent, and sometimes, traumatic upheavals, for sufferers, their familes and service providers alike; both are so counter-productive and yet somehow inherent.

The opportunity to forward plan regular respite breaks often enables someone to live, supported in their own home,for longer, before they need to consider long term residential care.

Experience has also shown regular respite care to act as a "stepping stone" and does actually allow people to make choices based on tangible information. This in turn enables people to effect a greater degree of control over the decisions they are expected to make when considering long term care. "Informed choice" can so easily prove to be little other than a politically correct phrase, without much substance.

The respite care facility at Orchard House has been designed as a self contained flat, with its own entrance, therefore effectively separated from the main house; it comprises a bedroom with full en-suite facilities and its own kitchenette / dining / utility area.

People who avail themselves of the facility are welcomed to join other services in the house if they so choose, for any or all of the scheduled activities. Alternatively, if they prefer, they will be able to plan their own day with as much, or as little, staff support as they need.

A visit to the house is highly recommended as this description does not pay it justice.