‘I’ll stay here until it is safe for them’: Northampton grandmother left family home ten weeks ago to care for others

A grandmother has not seen her daughter or granddaughter for ten weeks after she moved out of her family home to care for others.

Kate Rose, who works for Complete Support Care Services, a supported living service that provides at-home care for people learning difficulties, has moved in with two of the company’s customers, as she believes it is the best way to keep them safe.

The 64-year-old from Abington self-isolated for two weeks, then began supporting Debbie and Lynne who are shielding, as Kate describes them as ‘clinically vulnerable’ during the pandemic.

Kate, who is a team leader at Complete Support Care Services, said: “When we were notified about the lockdown, it was the obvious choice for me to move in, as I have a good support network at home.

“I feel I can keep them safe, so I didn’t want to hand that over to anyone else.

“I adore all of our customers and it’s imperative that we keep them safe, which is no different. It’s just a different way of keeping them safe.”

In total Kate has been away from her home, her loved ones and her dog for ten weeks

But despite her selfless act, Kate credits being able to move in and care for her vulnerable customers to her family members, who she says are ‘heroes’.

She added: “My family are heroes, they have stepped up at home. My daughter and granddaughter have just got on with it.

“Yes I miss them and I miss my little dog, but we have FaceTime, Zoom and House Party.

“All this technology has been a massive help and it also means the ladies can keep in touch with their friends too.

“We’re in a situation none of us can change so I’ve just taken it in my stride.

“I’m not leaving until I know it is safe. When it is safe for me to leave will be when it is safe for them to leave.”

As well as keeping Debbie and Lynne safe, Kate has also been helping them cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic and the change in routine.

“I have been asking the ladies not to watch too much of the news, we just watch the updates from the Prime Minister,” Kate continued.

“One day they had a bit of a wobble.

“We don’t know what is going through people’s minds, so I asked them what they were scared off and they said they were wondering if it is ever going to be safe to go out."

Although Kate could not answer the question, she asked if it would help if they knew how other people were feeling and then came up with an inventive way to help Debbie and Lynne understand that they are not alone in how they are feeling.

“I asked all of our other customers and staff to use one word to describe how they feel in lockdown," Kate added.

“We then used things we had around the house and things we ordered on Amazon to make a tree of life.

“We wrote everyone’s name on one side of the plaques then the word they sent on the other side.

“It has really given them something to focus on.”

While in lockdown, Kate has also been helping her two customers to improve their skills further, to support their independence.

“I’m trying to make our time here as enjoyable as possible and to develop skills they might not be aware they had,” she added.

“One has learnt to read and write and one has given up smoking and they have both been getting on with cleaning and cooking, I’m here if they need support.”

Kate plans to stay at the home she is sharing with Debbie and Lynne until it is safe for them all to leave.

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