Local business celebrates 10 years of providing care

Local business and home care provider, Right at Home GF is celebrating a special birthday this month as it marks 10 years of caring for people in their own homes.

Alastair Shanks is the Managing Director of Right at Home GF and reflected on care over the past decade. “Homecare is all about helping people, as much as possible, to live life on their own terms and in their own home regardless of their age or capabilities. In the 10 years Right at Home GF has been operating, we calculate that we have helped around 1,400 people do just that. To have helped people like Sara, our oldest client, to still be living safely in her own home at 108, is a great achievement to be part of.”

Right at Home GF has done some further number crunching to gauge its impact since Mr Shanks started the company in 2012. “I am incredibly proud of my team of CareGivers and my able and dedicated office staff and managers. Our CareGivers have delivered an enormous 661,127 hours of care since we began. Many of our clients are older people but we have clients of all ages who need a level of support to live comfortably and safely at home - people with cancer, recovering from operations, adults with learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions.”

In addition to its core business as a home care provider, Right at Home GF has placed itself firmly in the local community, organising community events, fundraising and running regular activities, particularly for people with dementia, such as Singing for the Mind and Love to Move. “We estimate we have trained over 1,500 people as dementia friends and have run a similar number of community events. During the COVID pandemic, we knew we were well placed to support the community in helping vulnerable people stay connected and well during lockdown. On Christmas Day 2020 we coordinated volunteers to provide and deliver 175 home cooked Christmas meals to people who were home alone or otherwise in need on Christmas Day.”

Mr Shanks and his team are looking forward to the next decade as he anticipates developments in the home care sector. “I’ve seen Right at Home GF grow into a successful business, important local employer and a trusted care provider. Since COVID, the profile of adult care has risen, and I hope it continues to be increasingly valued. My aspirations are that the company continues to develop and that we attract more people to the challenging but very important job of caregiving so that we can help more people who want to stay living at home as they get older.”

Since it began, Right at Home GF has provided a range of home care to clients, ranging from companionship and help with everyday tasks such as preparing a meal, housework and taking medication to 24 hour live-in care, overnight care and specialist care such as stroke rehabilitation.

Its regular activities, such as the Sunflower Cafe for people affected by dementia, Singing for the Mind, Inclusive Cricket and Love to Move are open to all.