Palmer Care & Support - Dawlish

21/10/2026

Recently, I enjoyed a lovely visit to the Langstone Cliff Hotel in Dawlish Warren with one of my clients and our taxi driver, Geoff.

We hadn’t been since before Christmas last year because of all the roadworks, so it was lovely to finally return, take in the sea views and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

One of the things I love about my work is supporting clients to enjoy outings like this. Having something to look forward to, visiting favourite places, can make such a difference to someone’s week.

Thank you to Geoff for getting us there and back safely

Another lovely outing for the Tuesday Fun Club! 😊

16/10/2026

💜 Care isn’t one-size-fits-all 💜

Being a self-employed carer is about so much more than doing a single job. Every client is different, and the support I provide is shaped around the help they need.

My working day can involve wearing lots of different hats — sometimes several in one visit! Over the years of working in adult care, I’ve realised that being a carer can mean different things to different people.

One of the things I love about my job is that no two days are ever the same.

Some days I’m a cook, preparing something for someone’s favourite meal. 🍲

Other days I’m a shopper, picking up the essentials they need. 🛒

I can be an admin assistant, helping make sense of paperwork, making phone calls or sorting out appointments. 📝

I’m a driver, helping someone get out for some fresh air, enjoy a change of scenery or get to an appointment. 🚗

I can be a helping hand around the home, putting the washing on or helping with a few light household jobs. 🧺

As well as providing personal care and medication prompting when needed.

But sometimes, my most important role is simply being me - someone to listen, chat with, spend time with and provide a little reassurance when it’s needed. 💜

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day – 10th October 💚

When we think about caring for someone, it’s easy to focus on the practical things and overlook how they are feeling.

Some days, getting out for a walk or having a chat over a cuppa can lift our spirits. Other days feel much harder, and that’s okay too.

For someone who spends a lot of time alone, a visit from a familiar face can be a chance to talk about what’s on their mind, share a laugh, or simply enjoy some company.

I always try to make space for those moments, whether we’re chatting whilst making lunch, going out for a walk, or sitting down with a drink. An unhurried visit gives someone time to talk, or simply have quiet company without feeling they need to say anything.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s be kind to ourselves and check in with the people around us. A simple “How are you doing?” can mean more than we realise. 💚

06/10/2026

I have always believed that if there is something I would like to try, why not give it a go?

Over the last eight months, I have pushed myself to try a couple of new things.

🎶 At the beginning of the year, I joined a local community choir, which I absolutely love. I have always enjoyed singing, and since joining I have had the opportunity to take part in several concerts locally.

🥁 More recently, I decided to give cardio drumming a try. I can definitely tell I’ve had a workout the following day! 😂 But that still doesn’t stop me going back and enjoying it each week.

Trying these new things has reminded me just how important it is to have something that makes you smile, gives you enjoyment and gives you something to look forward to.

And that’s something I encourage with my clients too. 💜

Care and support is not only about the everyday practical things. It can also be about helping someone continue doing the things they enjoy, rediscovering an old hobby or supporting them to try something completely new.

If there is something a client has always enjoyed, something they would like to try, or perhaps a local group or activity they are interested in, then we look into it together.

Sometimes, for various reasons, the original idea might not be possible or practical. But that doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on it. We can think about different ways of doing it or find an alternative that they can still enjoy.

And it doesn’t have to be anything big. It could be enjoying a hobby at home, listening to music, gardening, crafts, puzzles, baking, going for a drive, visiting somewhere they love or simply getting out for a little while.

Having something you enjoy can make such a difference to your day and give you something to look forward to.

You are never too old to enjoy an old hobby, discover a new one or simply try something different.

02/10/2026

🌿 A little fresh air and a lovely view. ☀️

Sometimes, it’s the simple moments that make a difference - getting outside, watching the world go by and enjoying a relaxed chat along the way.

This week, I took a drive to Powderham Castle with one of my clients, who hadn’t been there before. Although the castle wasn’t open, we still managed to get close enough to admire the outside and the surrounding grounds. Even better, the sun was shining too!

I really enjoy taking clients on outings, whether we’re visiting a favourite place, returning somewhere they haven’t been for a long time, or simply stopping to take in a lovely view. 💜

28/09/2026

When you are choosing someone to support yourself or a loved one, it is important to feel confident about who you are welcoming into your home.

As a self-employed carer, I am able to provide evidence of my DBS and I am always happy for clients and families to ask to see it.

I am really pleased to see the Disclosure and Barring Service has launched its new Every Check Helps campaign, encouraging people hiring self-employed carers and other professionals, who are working with vulnerable adults or children to ask about DBS checks.

Find more information here 👇

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-launches-campaign-to-help-parents-and-carers-make-informed-decisions-when-hiring-self-employed-workers

28/09/2026

If you are a self employed personal assistant, looking to make the transition or would like to know how we have been and still are raising the standards of care, you will not want to miss this one!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kmWTUMy25VKiyRM3ibH6Y?si=PQ9s9ldnSm2Lgqbla71GHg

Continuing the Conversation with Sadie · Episode

23/09/2026

✨ It’s the little things that make a big difference ✨

When you get to know someone really well, you learn the little details of their day — their routines, their preferences, what they might struggle with, and the small things that can make life that bit easier.

I know most of my clients very well, and on every visit I’m always thinking ahead to what they may need later, when I’m not there.

It might be…

👉 Leaving the house phone next to them on the coffee table or on their trolley, so it’s within easy reach.

👉 Checking the tissue box is full and replacing it if it’s running low.

👉 Popping their PJs on the radiator so they’re lovely and warm at bedtime.

👉 Loosening the top of the toothpaste or undoing bottles so they’re easier to open later.

👉 Leaving an extra toilet roll beside the toilet or commode.

👉 Draping a cardigan or blanket over the back of their chair — just in case they get chilly later on.

👉 Cutting up a sandwich I’ve made or bought, so it’s easier for them to eat later.

👉 At one of my clients’ homes, I lay out the tray ready for lunch or their next meal — bowl, cutlery and anything else they’ll need. This can be especially helpful if the carer coming in after me happens to be running late.

None of these are big things on their own, but together they can make someone’s day that little bit easier.

✨ Care is in the details ✨

14/09/2026

🏡👟 👣 Shoes on or off? 👣 👟🏡

Something quite simple that I always think about when I first meet a new client is house rules 🏡

One of the first things I would ask when entering someone's home is:

“Would you like me to take my shoes off?” 👣

It might seem like a small question, but I believe these little things matter.

Your home is your space, your comfort zone and your rules. As a carer, I am entering that space to support you - so I feel it is important to establish those boundaries and preferences from the very beginning.

For some people, shoes off is a must.

For others, shoes can stay on.

Neither is right or wrong — what matters is what makes the person comfortable in their own home. ❤️

Asking rather than assuming is, for me, a simple way of showing mutual respect.

Good care isn't just about the practical tasks. It's about listening, respecting preferences, understanding boundaries and remembering that I am a guest in someone's home.

Sometimes, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. 🥰

08/09/2026

One thing I've learnt over the years...

Never underestimate the power of putting the kettle on.

It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?

But making a cup of tea is rarely just making a cup of tea.

It's sitting down for five minutes.

It's hearing about the doctor's appointment.

It's noticing they seem quieter than usual.

It's spotting they haven't eaten their breakfast.

It's hearing the same story for the tenth time because today they needed to tell it.

Some of the best care I've ever delivered has happened whilst the kettle was boiling.

Because care isn't just about the jobs we do.

It's about the conversations we have whilst we're doing them. 💜