We have the ultimate goal of setting up a respite centre, not only for patients with severe chronic illnesses but also for their carers. We want to create an innovation space where different social groups interact to improve health and the quality of life in our communities. A place where professionals share the challenges of the daily life of carers and patients.
WE WORK TO MAKE A DREAM HAPPEN
1-Respite Centre: Facilitate and improve the well-being of patients with serious chronic pathologies (mental illnesses, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ICTUS, degenerative diseases …) and their carers. Creating a Coexistence and Respite Centre, for both patients and their carers, supervised by health professionals. It will operate on the basis of a temporary stay of one-two weeks with a maximum of eight places available (four patients and four relatives). During the stay, we intend to offer periods of physical and psychological rest for the patient and the family member who usually takes care of them.
2-Education: Program of recreational and training activities related to the practice of good habits in daily activities and with the purpose of improving health. Promote and organise training and self-help courses for carers, relatives and other people who have a vested interest. Provide tools and tips so that when they return to their home, the patient is more proactive in coping with their illness and their carers have a better understanding of the patient’s illness and needs. Both will hopefully feel enriched from the Program, with knowledge and advice to assist the patient in leading a rewarding life where they can make a valuable contribution to society.
3-Awareness: Offer accommodation places to other people (at minimal charge, as a contribution towards the cost of the activities provided by the centre); free of charge for patients with serious chronic illness and their carers. Facilitate coexistence and involvement in the centre’s programmed activities to sensitise society so that it has a better understanding of the limitations of old age and serious chronic diseases (Alzheimer’s, ICTUS, degenerative diseases…) and, indirectly, discover new ways of positively interacting with different social groups.
4-Innovation: Offer a physical space within individualised and inclusive Respite Centres, where health professionals can meet and have a break from their daily duties. A suitable and relaxing space where they can provide training courses and, at the same time, propose innovative ideas for new models of care. An exchange in which professionals can voluntarily offer their services and at the same time, learn and gain experience from others committed to the project (eg. learning from those who live with a serious chronic illness 24 hours a day).
5-Interdisciplinary: Maintain contacts with other disciplines and Associations dedicated to the study of different serious chronic diseases. Be up-to-date on the scientific advances in this field, as well as reflect on ethical considerations, so that they are better equipped and informed to answering questions asked by relatives, patients and other health professionals.
6-Advice: Advise relatives and patients; provide psychological and moral assistance, and guide them in legal, economic and sociological matters, with special emphasis on promoting the rights of vulnerable patients.
7-Social integration: Maintain contact with other Organisations and Associations dedicated to help the neediest sectors. Offer our experience and collaboration, in order to demonstrate to our patients, in a practical and regulated manner, that regardless of their age or limiting condition, they can still play an important role in society. Thus, reducing the risk of them developing “socially invisible” diseases such as depression, deterioration of the cognitive abilities, memory and personality changes, all of which come from and are aggravated by taking a passive role in the home, a feeling of uselessness and social exclusion.
8-Environmental sustainability: Through the structure of the Centre and the operating rules of our project, we commit to trying, as far as possible, to support and collaborate with the implementation of all initiatives designed with ethics, equality and environmental sustainability in mind, with the purpose of enabling the dissemination of education programs on these matters to all productive and social sectors.