Vital Link to the world outside

Ten years ago Oldham’s much-loved Social Services day centre New Vale House was replaced by the Link Centre on Union Street. The past decade has seen a revolution in the way adults with a disability or incapacity are helped. Janice Barker met staff and service users as they prepare to host a 10th birthday party.

One of the cleverest aids at the Link Centre is the possum — not a small furry creature but an electronic pad which reacts to a tap, breath or even the flicker of an eyelid.

Using a menu of commands, it can turn on the light and TV, open blinds, operate the telephone, lock the door or do similar tasks most people take for granted.

And Linda Lucas, independent living support worker at the Link Centre, said the possums proved invaluable during the last icy winter, when care workers were not always able to get to their clients.

“People could at least make a phone call, open their curtains and see on TV what was happening, even if they were confined to their room,” she said.

The possum is symbolic of the way 21st century technology can be used to make life easier for adults whose capacity is restricted by an accident, disease, a chronic condition or disability.

But at the other end of the scale, the Link Centre can also help with a few words of advice, a pointer to the right service, or advice from other people coping with the same condition.

And staff want to get the message out loud and clear that it is there to help anyone from Oldham.

Paul Whalley, assistant team manager, said: “The centre is for the public of Oldham borough, and we want it to be user-led, helping us decide how it is used and how we develop the service.

“In the past we were here to just help people with physical disabilities, now we help people with mental health issues, learning disabilities, and people who just need some assistance for a short period to help them stay in their own home.

“Perhaps they have lost skills due to a brain injury.

“We also help people with aids and adaptations so they can live independently.”

Independent Living support worker Linda Lucas showed me around the three-storey building, which houses the Oldham disability information point, a demonstration bedroom, bathroom and living room equipped with aids ranging from the possum to a large button telephone, a sensor mat to show when a person is up and about, and other technology to alert Helpline staff when someone has not moved around their home for several hours.

Specialist teams of social workers assist people with mobility, sight, hearing or coping problems, and the centre offers bathing and showering rooms equipped with special seats and hoists for people who cannot bathe by themselves in their own homes.

Carers who support disabled people can be trained there, while users who have individual budgets and want to employ a carer can get help with employment laws, payroll services and budgeting. A relaxation suite helps people to wind down their stress levels.

Not all the help is about technology — sometimes people just need to call in to be pointed in the right direction for help, added Linda.

And the language team can help non-English speaking clients.

Linda believes there are probably many communities in Oldham, such as Polish, Ukrainian, Afro Caribbean and also Italian, who came to the town several years ago and may now be ageing, but live in scattered communities.

She said: “Where are these people? They will be retired now and there may be service here they need.”




They have given me my freedom

Motorbike enthusiast Chris Murray (59) from Royton suffered catastrophic injuries when he was involved in a crash in West Yorkshire.

He has no movement from his chest down after spinal damage, but can’t praise the Link Centre enough for filling the huge gap in his life.

The former sheet metal worker had to give up his job, needed regular physiotherapy and had to move to a specially adapted ground-floor flat. But with help from independent living support workers Joanne Rudd and Linda Lucas he has even managed to holiday abroad and drives a specially adapted car with a hoist which lifts his wheelchair into a luggage box on the top,

Chris said: “They have given me my freedom back. I was bored — motorbikes were my passion. I’ve been on courses from cookery to computers and I’ve made friends here. I also come here twice a week for my physiotherapy, because Joanne has been shown what exercises I need and helps me to do them.

“The Link Centre is for more than just disabled people and if I want to know anything I come to the Oldham Disability Information Point and Linda puts me on the right road.

“It is for people who need help, and their families, even doctors could benefit from it.”