New respite care facility offers hope for families

A new overnight respite facility is opening up in Ipswich which carers have said will be a lifeline.

Wots Up, a community interest company, already offers day care in nearby Whitton for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

But it is expanding its service after gaining planning permission to adapt a home in the Chantry area of the town, which will be able to support three adults at a time.

"We don't just want this to be respite for the parents," explained Sharn Smith, who will be the registered manager at the new home.

"We want to have nice opportunities for people to come and relax in a home atmosphere.

"We want to have themed rooms and lots of exciting activities going on and we want people to look at it as if its is a holiday."

Another respite facility in Ipswich - at Burgess House run by not-for-profit group Leading Lives - is due to close at the end of December.

Speaking from the day centre on a Friday lunchtime, Gill Lewis explained that her 39-year-old daughter Hannah needed one-to-one care at home.

Hannah, who attends Wots Up, has Angelman syndrome which is a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities.

"We are constantly watching over her 24-7 to make sure she is safe and that takes its toll, unless we have respite we can't function," said the 62-year-old.

"My husband and I both work and to cope with Hannah as well is really difficult. We just need somewhere that's safe.

"Respite is a lifeline for us."

Loraine Cuzner's 22-year-old son Joe has autism and ADHD and attends the day centre.

She says she is "excited" about the new overnight facility after trying to book into other respite care that had been fully booked.

"It would be lovely for Joe to go to Wots Up respite because he knows the carers and other people that attend - that makes him more settled," said Ms Cuzner.

"It is an intense relationship when you are with someone literally 24-7 for almost 22 years; everyone needs a break".

Deidre Charleston, along with her husband, cares for their daughter Amy who has Down's syndrome and is 21.

She said Amy was very happy at Wots Up and said the opportunity for some respite - for the first time - would be "great".

Respite care is paid for in different ways.

It is mainly subsidised by Suffolk County Council, but it can also be paid for by the NHS or funded privately.

Wots Up was started in 2014 by Mags Fortune and supports about 30 adults.

Ipswich Borough Council granted the planning permission for the house in Chantry earlier this month.

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