The charity Jalon Valley Help (JVH) was originally formed over 25 years ago to buy Ambulances but as you now know there is a system in place and that is no longer necessary. What is necessary and a fundamental part of the service to the community is the provision of medical beds, mobility aids and equipment such as hoists to provide a hospital in the home.
The concept in Spain as everyone knows is that when the hospital has done all they can with their medical procedures the patient is discharged into the care of their families. The Domecilio team then do home visits and provide medication and other medical procedures to assist the patient in the home setting. Unfortunately the release back to the home does not always go well. Sometimes the care required is beyond the normal lay person’s capability or they are disabled themselves or have relied on the person recovering in the past for care.
Only today we have heard that something like this happens in the Netherlands but unlike here where Jalon Valley Help or Cancer Care or Help Alter Marina or MABS exists they have to rely on what they can find at home. As far as we can tell what we are doing is providing a unique service that is very much needed in other places.
The good news is more and more people are hearing about us. Thanks to the U3A we have had two medical beds added to our inventory but each time we buy some beds, usually 4 or 6 at a time we find they are rapidly committed and we have to think about funding more. What appears to be happening is more organisations are becoming aware that they can get help and are getting touch and this includes the local Spanish community.
Again thanks to funding from the U3A amounting to 1500 euro we have been able to buy a van and save money on vehicle hire for delivery and pick up service for beds and other equipment like wheel chairs, commodes and walkers. The van is an old one and it has done over 340,000 kilometres, it is not only our lifeline as far as medical equipment goes it provides us with the capability to pick up donations or deliver furniture.
“It is not the only thing that is old. So are the people doing the work!“
Medical support
On the medical side we have the Drop In Centre at the Alcalali Civic Centre 11:30 to 13:30 each Thursday. This is run by a fully qualified Nurse, Alison Day and anyone is welcome to visit and discuss their medical situation, what to expect and get help if needed for any medical condition not just Cancer. Alison does work for the Cancer Care Association but we have been in partnership with them for a number of years and contribute to the costs so all are welcome.
Over the phone help is also available on our Helpline which Alison looks after but please allow her time to get back to you as she may be working with someone when you ring. Both the Helpline and Medical Equipment line are accessible on your phone by going to www.jalonvalleyhelp.org.
We want to clarify something that may help if you are looking after someone. “A registered carer in Spain is the relative or spouse who registers with Social Services that they have someone in their care.”
Professional carers are usually trained or experienced in the role and deal with a number of patients. Not all carers have the experience to look after every case and again a chat with Alison Day will help you get the right person for the task.
It is also essential that when someone looks like they need long term care or a long recuperation period that they register with the Spanish Social services. This must be done on an individual basis and applied for and it can take many months to get into the system so start early.
We are building a team headed up by Wendy Roberts who was formerly a Manager of teams in the UK Social Care system. She has only just started in the last couple of weeks and she is working closely with Alison Day to support some of our cases.
Dedicated Helpline
659 624 643
Drop In Alcalali Civic Centre
11:30 to 13:30
Thursday
Financial support
If you are covered by the UK Department of Works and Pensions Attendance Allowance is available for certain illnesses but you cannot apply on line if you live outside the UK. You must complete a 30 page questionnaire and again this is where we can help. A call to our Helpline will start the ball rolling for you or someone you are looking after. We help with recorded delivery postage and a covering letter and we have been successful in obtaining a rapid change in a difficult financial situation for many. It is not automatic though and they do assess any medical information you provide along with the application.
Fitness & Friendship
We also understand that meeting people, and keeping fit are essential for our well being. We run a coffee morning 10 am every Tuesday at the Alicante Civic Centre(Animo) and keep fit classes on Thursday. Other activities include Church on Sunday and bible classes, craft making, etc. Again we have someone new joining our team Julie Day, she likes to be called Jules or Jay and she is taking on the task of building numbers and activities available at the Alcalali Civic Centre.
Volunteers
Every volunteer is owed a vote of thanks for the work they do each year to keep JVH delivering the services needed in our community but a mention for the new shop in Jalon is a must as recently we exceeded 1000 euro in takings. Without our volunteers we could not deliver on our promise to help others. They are responsible for raising the fonds, providing a valuable recycling service and delivering the services that are needed in the Orba and Jalon Valleys.
Working Together
We have been in partnership for a long time now with Cancer Care. We have regular Social Care meetings and our team is growing but there is a lot to do and I am very pleased with the working partnership we have with U3A. Not only has your organisation been a long term supporter making cash donations each year but we are now collaborating on working with organisations that can deliver services to those in need in the Orba and Jalon area. We have identified a need to assist Caritas starting in Jalon and soon to extend to other towns with their cash flow and we are continuing this collaboration with the Red Cross in Spain.
“Jalon Valley Help are about delivering services. This does not mean we do everything, on the contrary, we believe in partnering with others and want to work with the U3A, the Church and even bigger organisations like the Red Cross to make sure those who need help or are vulnerable, get the help they need without any gaps.”
The Animo Centre is a great example of the results that come from co-operating with a local authority and the Alcalali Mayor. A longer standing agreement with them gives JVH the use of an office and function room while the rest of the building is occupied by the Post Office, Pensionistas and other activities. In return for our area we maintain the interior of the building, clean it and provide consumables in the toilets.
Richard Green
President
Jalon Valley Help