BBC Radio Manchester visits EachStep

BBC Radio Manchester reporter Michelle Adamson visited EachStep Blackley to talk to some of the people we support and promote our recent celebrity memorabilia auction, which raised funds for ‘Singing for Wellbeing’, a specialist music therapy for people with dementia.

EachStep Blackley is Community Integrated Care’s pioneering new £5 million integrated dementia care service in North Manchester, which provides home care, day care, respite support, and residential and nursing care.

 The feature was broadcast live on the Becky Want show on Thursday morning (6^th December), and included interviews with two people supported by EachStep – Ruth Jackson and Agnes Cunningham, as well as Jean McDowell, whose Aunt is a resident at EachStep Blackley. Michelle also chatted to Alan Howells, EachStep’s Specialist Nurse and Lead Trainer.

Ruth and Agnes gave moving accounts of their experience of being supported by EachStep. Agnes, who lives in the residential care service at EachStep, praised the excellent work of staff, saying: “You have doubts when you first come to a care home, but I must admit, everybody was very anxious to help and care.” Ruth, who regularly attends day care at EachStep, told the journalist that she enjoyed  a recent week-long stay at EachStep’s respite service and even asked when she could come back for another stay!

Perhaps the most glowing commendation of the service came from Jean, whose Aunt has recently become a resident at EachStep Blackley’s nursing care service. Jean said: “My aunt has been here for about ten weeks and the improvement has been awesome, really awesome. EachStep has given her back her life.”

She continued: “The staff don’t make me feel like I’m a nuisance or an inconvenience, every nursing home should be run like EachStep.”

Finally, Michelle discussed the auction with EachStep’s Specialist Nurse, Alan Howells. Alan emphasised the fantastic  impact all funds raised by the charity auction would make, saying: “The money we raise is going to be used for Singing for Wellbeing, a weekly music therapy group. This helps brings back memories and improves socialisation, self-esteem and communication skills.”

The EachStep eBay auction raised over £300.

We are holding a second auction of signed celebrity photos that ends on Monday 17^th December  – to view or bid on any of the items, visit: www.bit.ly/eachstep-ebay