Emergency respite care launches at The Beehive Centre

Diverse Abilities has opened its doors for emergency respite care at The Beehive Centre, following a trial period to ensure all necessary safety precautions are in place.

The Beehive Centre, formerly Barnabas, is the charity’s day centre for adults with physical and learning disabilities and was forced to close at the beginning of the pandemic.

Chelsey Mills, The Beehive Centre manager, commented: “Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to reopen our vital day therapy services due to the ongoing pandemic, but the people we support need help and their carers need respite.

“Offering emergency respite care at The Beehive, and through additional satellite sites, means that carers can take a break from the 24/7 support they need to provide. We are also continuing to offer virtual and outreach support to the adults we support. Some have not left their homes since March and will not be able to for months to come.”

As well as receiving treatments such as physiotherapy and participating in activities to aid mobility and hand-eye coordination, those attending the respite sessions also benefit from social and community time to increase their mental health and wellbeing. These adults are deemed high risk in the pandemic, and many have been shielding and isolating throughout the past six months.

Diverse Abilities launched its remote support earlier in the year to ensure that the people it supports were remaining stimulated with the activities they would usually enjoy at The Beehive, to create some sense of familiarity amongst the uncertainty.

Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/adults for further details about the available services.