Helping the Elderly

Stroke Care for Newbury and West Berkshire

Many mobility issues stem from a lack of confidence and so we can help people suffering from strokes to build up confidence.

The Berkshire Community Foundation has funded hydrotherapy sessions. The improvements and progress in some people receiving hydrotherapy has been quite astonishing. Brad Bradford (pictured below) said:

“The hydrotherapy sessions are wonderful! The warm water is really relaxing and it really helps my movement. I suffer from stroke on my left side, but I have managed to swim across the pool and so my mobility is really improving. The support of the water means you can push yourself more and force more movement. Coming to the centre allows my wife to have some time to herself; she can do something she likes while I enjoy my hydrotherapy sessions."

ReadiBus

Each year the Berkshire Community Foundation distributes income from the Blagrave Fund for the Elderly to ReadiBus, a local service providing subsidised transport for the elderly & disabled. The beneficiaries are referred by voluntary groups on the basis of the individual’s restricted mobility, limited income and isolation.

During the year there were 77 beneficiaries of the Travel Scheme. These individuals were referred by 5 referral agencies and were enabled to make 2,065 journeys.  The introduction of the new “escort” scheme also enabled 5 particularly vulnerable individuals to make 59 shopping trips.

Peter Absolon, General Manager of ReadiBus said:

“The support from the Berkshire Community Foundation has provided invaluable assistance to particularly vulnerable elderly people on low incomes. The support has enhanced each beneficiary’s quality of life in a very real way by enabling them to make journeys that they would have otherwise not been able to make. The support is very targeted, thereby making the best use of the funds available.”