Experiences with service vouchers – caregiver’s leave brings relief to challenging everyday life
A caregiver living in Savo receives help with caring for her husband from 9Lives through a service voucher. The collaboration began in October 2022 and has gone better than the caregiver expected. The assistance received from 9Lives has brightened up both the husband and his spouse.
The caregiver didn’t know what to do with the service voucher she received. That’s why she decided to contact 9Lives. 9Lives’ service manager and responsible nurse visited the caregiver and her husband to discuss their needs and wishes, as well as how to use the service voucher. Through this pleasant meeting, the collaboration began in October 2022.
The husband requiring care is French-Swedish and doesn’t speak any Finnish. For this reason, Antti, who can speak Swedish, was selected as the nurse. The couple was impressed by Antti’s language skills – how could someone from Savo speak Swedish so fluently! Their amazement increased when Emma, who came along with Antti on one visit as a substitute, spoke not only Swedish but also French. Emma is meant to fill in for Antti when he is, for example, on vacation or sick.
“My husband has been overjoyed to be able to speak his native language with the nurses. It’s really important to us that we have a familiar nurse visiting us. Because of this, trust between us and Antti has grown quickly,” the caregiver explains.
Scheduling visits is flexible
A good care relationship has developed between Antti and the couple, and Antti arranges visits directly with the client. The caregiver greatly appreciates 9Lives’ flexibility.
“Antti visits us once a week and has also taken my husband to hearing tests at the central hospital, where I haven’t been able to take him. Antti has some magic word in his possession, as he has even managed to get my husband into the shower, where almost no one can get him to go,” the caregiver marvels.
Antti’s visits have brought joy to both the husband receiving care and his spouse. Antti helps the couple with everyday chores and has occasionally given the husband a so-called “beauty treatment”: shaving his beard, mustache, and chest hair, as well as cutting his nails.
If some task hasn’t been successful due to the husband’s condition or mood, Antti has responded well and known how to change plans on the fly. The spouse, on the other hand, has received a lot of guidance and advice from Antti on matters such as making the husband’s bed and managing everyday hygiene.
“It has been a relief for me to be able to talk with people other than my husband. I’ve received support for my activities too. I understand that I could go somewhere during the visits, but I haven’t felt it necessary yet,” the caregiver notes.
Caregiver’s leave is tailored according to the client’s wishes and needs
The help provided with a caregiver service voucher is not as strictly defined as in home care, for example, and the caregiver can use their creativity. The purpose is to get to know the person being cared for and do things together that make them feel good.
“My husband will soon turn 90, and we’ve planned that Antti would take us to a restaurant to eat. We’re also planning to organize a picnic in nature,” the caregiver says excitedly.
The caregiver’s leave is meant to offer a restorative break for the caregiver. The caregiver can define for themselves how the service is implemented – what kind of help they find most recharging.
The hours covered by the service voucher can be used all at once in the form of a longer visit or split into shorter visits throughout the month.
“The customer doesn’t need to do anything regarding the service voucher: they just arrange the service with us, and then we organize it. Caregivers also need breaks and help – with the service voucher, these are easy to request and receive,” Business development director Peter Söderlund encourages.
Do you need a break from caregiving? Or perhaps other help with your daily life? Contact us, and we’ll find the most suitable solution for you together.