The Dochas Centre 50 Campbell Street, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8JU               Scottish Charity No  029821                                                                                                                

Mobile Home About Us Gallery Carers Centre Outreach Counselling Contact Us

Dochas

Carers Centre & Gallery

Supporting Unpaid Carers

Privacy Notice                                                                                                                

Bringing Together People who Care”

Carers’ Centre

Back to Top

Do you look after a relative, partner or friend who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness including mental ill health?


Who is a Carer? A Carer is a family member, partner, relative or friend supporting someone who needs help to manage a long term condition, disability, physical or mental health problem or addiction.


Dochas Carers’ Centre is an independent charity. We help and support carers by providing information and guidance which can make life better. You can call in person, phone us, request a home visit or make an appointment to speak with one of our staff during the opening hours of the centre.



Our Services


We provide a wide range of free services to unpaid carers. There are also a number of informal support groups and drop-in sessions in Lochgilphead, Inveraray, Campbeltown, Tarbert and Islay.


Carers Assessment


If you are a Carer, Carer’s Assessment Worker can help by talking with you about your caring situation. You can get help and advice about ways you may be supported.

Taking time to talk about your situation can help you to take stock and look at options which can as-sist you to continue to care if that is what you wish to do. There are many things available that can make a difference. Having information about these will allow you to consider what you want to happen for you in affected areas of your life.

You will always be in control of the way in which things progress and you can be assured that all discussions are confidential.

Mid Argyll Circle of Friends


Everyone can feel lonely now and again. But as you get older and relatives move away, or you suffer a bereavement of a loved one, being at home on our own can be especially difficult. Health problems or other circumstances can make it hard to get out and about, in touch with people, or form new friendships. If this happens it can then be difficult to tell others that you are feeling lonely.


Who is eligible? Anyone, including carers,  living in Mid Argyll, over the age of 65 and who feels isolated and lonely can have a befriender.  We can also help those with dementia who are under the age of 65.  


We will take referrals from any agency or person.  If you know of someone who would benefit from the involvement of a befriender, please contact us.

Connecting music, people and memories is the idea developed for people with dementia. Being able to respond to music is the one thing dementia cannot destroy. We are working with a new charity called Playlist for Life to provide the service to families in Mid Argyll. There is mounting evidence that if people with dementia are offered frequent access to the music in which their past experience and memories are embedded, it can


Our volunteers are trained to create a playlist or help family members make a playlist for your loved one. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you are interested in this service. We are currently looking for more volunteers. Unused or unwanted iPods or mp3 players can be donated to us. We can give them away to those who need but cannot afford. For more information please visit www.playlistforlife.org.uk.


                                                        

Vivamus vel sapien

Take Care of Yourself

Creative Breaks is funded by the Scottish Government as part of its commitment to the development of short breaks for the benefit of carers and those they care for. As an unpaid carer, it can be difficult to spend time and money on yourself.  By enabling you to take a short break either in the form of a brief holiday away, attending a family event or even going on a course to try something new, the Creative Breaks fund can provide a break that can:



Eligibility and How you can apply:

If you are a Carer/Young Carer living in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles (Islay, Jura and Gigha), then you are eligible to make an application to the Creative Breaks Fund. Contact us for more information or an application form. You can complete the application form by yourself or get help with completing the form. The completed application form is reviewed by the Panel to make a decision. If the application is successful, the agreed Short Break will take place. After the short break there will be an evaluation process which will assess how the break has benefited you.

Carers Support


This is the core activity of Dochas to support carers.  We often meet in groups but also spend a lot of time with individual carers to provide a listening ear and practical support. You are not alone. We cover Mid Argyll, Kintyre and The Isles. You can check dates, times and locations for our groups from the diary on the first page. Current groups at the centre are weekly drop-in for carers, monthly drop-in for carers of people with Autism, Dementia Café and Carers Lunch.

“Time for Me”


This service offers carers ‘Time Out’ to do something for themselves. Having a break supports carers to continue caring allowing them some ‘Me Time’ knowing that their loved one is safe. Our service can provide some weekly support for a limited period of time. We can discuss individual options and needs with you to provide the quality time for you.  It can also enable you to have a break when you are waiting for a care package to be organised. You can have peace of mind knowing our staff can provide companionship at home for the person you care for.