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Care & carers

Granny minders

(32 Posts)
NikkiG Tue 05-Nov-24 20:06:09

Does anyone know if there is such a thing like a child minder but for the elderly, call it a Granny Minder.
A safe place where you can drop off and pick up later?
Not looking for a carehome, just a normal home (like a child minders).
We're in the Reading area.

crazyH Tue 05-Nov-24 20:17:29

I have not heard of that. It probably also depends on how old and how able the ‘granny’ is. Good luck !

Georgesgran Tue 05-Nov-24 20:21:54

Maybe some sort of Day Club run by the LA/Council, if they still exist.

Georgesgran Tue 05-Nov-24 20:25:24

I think more info is needed on the ‘granny’ and why you are looking for such a place?

Some care homes offer day places without being on their waiting list. Should the ‘granny’ need help, why not employ an Agency to drop in for half an hour a few times a day?

petra Tue 05-Nov-24 20:29:53

Give AgeUK a ring. There might be a befriender in your area.

BlessedArt Tue 05-Nov-24 20:41:29

I was just going to suggest AgeUK @ petra.

My son says there is such thing as ‘Adult Daycare’ in the US, where you can drop off elderly relatives for the day much in the same way you do the little ones. I wonder if there is a UK equivalent?

MissAdventure Tue 05-Nov-24 20:58:18

I've always thought it would be an excellent idea to have someone with a normal family home who could take an extra visitor. smile

I'm sure I saw years and years ago, that kind of set up, but whether it ever became "a thing", I've no idea.

I do know a couple of people who take older people to play bingo and have a cuppa,,or to a lunch club.

kittylester Tue 05-Nov-24 21:17:29

AgeUk run day centres, as do other groups, but hey are quite pricey.

Our village has volunteer befrenders who will come and sit with an elderly
Person. AgeUk round here does the same but there is a charge.

NotSpaghetti Tue 05-Nov-24 21:17:45

There are obviously day centres
I don't think you are looking for that though?

My daughter a few years ago sat/chatted/went out with an elderly lady in a sort of "caring" role. She did it one day a week so her housekeeper/carer could have a day off in addition to the one covered by the older lady's daughter.
It was after breakfast until nearly dinner time. They occasionally walked 200 yds up the road to a bistro for lunch or took a taxi to a café or museum for afternoon tea (otherwise my daughter prepared lunch/tea and cake).
I don't know if this is a viable alternative?
It wasn't in my daughter's home though.
She found this job through an agency I think.

Cossy Thu 07-Nov-24 13:43:24

There are many “day care” centres across the UK.

Just Google, day care centres for the elderly in your area.

Both my MiL and Aunt attended different Day Care Centres prior to residential care.

Your local LA may have a list.

Uppercase79 Sun 10-Nov-24 11:53:46

My husband, who has dementia, goes to a local daycare called Home From Home near Liverpool. It is excellent, very friendly, lots of activities and costs around £70 a day. Although he can't remember it (even after a year of attending!), he loves it, goes in happily and greets everyone though not remembering their names. I get 5 hours of "freedom".

Maggierose Sun 10-Nov-24 11:58:15

I’m in west/central London and there is a variety of daytime options including a specialist memory/dementia centre near me. Check your local council.

MissAdventure Sun 10-Nov-24 12:00:48

I think the point was to explore options other than day centres and more formal arrangements.

jojochurchy Sun 10-Nov-24 12:38:39

This is the time of year for Warm Spaces - would they be long enough (2-3 hours)?

Longdistancegrnny Sun 10-Nov-24 12:40:06

Where I live there is an organisation called 'Nannies for Grannies' but I think they go into people's own homes/take the older person out. Maybe its a national organisation?

Mojack26 Sun 10-Nov-24 13:01:36

Never heard of that.

Milly12 Sun 10-Nov-24 13:34:44

One of the regular dog walkers where I walk my dogs has told me she has to get home for a certain time as she then goes to do “odd jobs” for an elderly lady and then sits wit her for a couple of hours, watching TV and drinking tea etc!
It is not a formal arrangement but more like “babysitting”- she gets paid for ?it but is not a formal arrangement! Seems a very good arrangement to me!
Worth asking around if someone might do something like that?

GeeGee12 Sun 10-Nov-24 13:35:49

I have just found a wonderful lady companion who visits and takes me out

rowyn Sun 10-Nov-24 14:17:16

I live near Reading, and having read your message, thought -ah I could do that, not so much with the thought of getting paid, but just because I live on my own and would be happy to help out.

But then I realised that I'm of an age that might suggest that I'm far too old to be capable of caring for someone else and more likely to soon need a minder myself! And next I thought about Home Insurance and whether I would be breaching the terms and conditions, and also my knowledge ( or lack of ) First Aid.
To summarise, I realised that it's a hefty responsibility, and there are probably lots of rules and regulations that have to be obeyed! Hope you find someone!

But it's a great idea - setting up a

Knittypamela Sun 10-Nov-24 14:18:54

I'm in Northern Ireland and have seen a facility that does day care. Just saying, it must be a thing.

sodapop Sun 10-Nov-24 15:41:38

GeeGee12

I have just found a wonderful lady companion who visits and takes me out

That sounds interesting GeeGee12 a much less patronising title than 'Granny minder'
I'm sure a lot of families would find this helpful for their older relatives both male & female.

win Sun 10-Nov-24 15:43:04

The Filo Project does just that. The cared for spend the day at a private home, farm or whatever fitting in with whatever the family do, some take more than one, others just one. As it is a private scheme it is not cheap, but the best for your loved ones in meh opinion.
A befriended is not qualified in any way, just DBS checked and is not there to offer any care support at all. Just chatting and making a drink. They will also take you out if they can drive and are insured to have work related passengers in their car.

MissAdventure Sun 10-Nov-24 15:50:44

When I win the lottery, I'll have people round for a cuppa, and lunch and dinner.

Just need to win, now.

Allira Sun 10-Nov-24 15:54:11

NikkiG

Does anyone know if there is such a thing like a child minder but for the elderly, call it a Granny Minder.
A safe place where you can drop off and pick up later?
Not looking for a carehome, just a normal home (like a child minders).
We're in the Reading area.

There are Day Centres where vulnerable people can go; one is run in our community hospital.

There are also Befriending Groups in some areas where someone will come and sit with a vulnerable person for an hour or two while the main carer goes out for an appointment or just to have a break.

Allira Sun 10-Nov-24 15:56:44

servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/results.action?adultchannel=4_1&sortorder=1&sorttype=field&sortfield=review_average