Leuchie House

Leuchie House is an independent charity supporting people, and their families, living with the devastating effects of long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, motor neurone disease and cerebral palsy. Based in an 18th century mansion in the beautiful East Lothian countryside, the charity offers respite breaks over four, seven or 11 nights tailored to the needs of people with long term conditions. Included in every break is expert 24/7 nursing care, one-to-one physiotherapy, a daily in-house activities and entertainment programme, outings in accessible vehicles and freshly prepared meals. Short respite breaks are a lifeline for most people with long term conditions and for the people who care for them - usually a spouse or other family member. For many carers the demands of a 24/7 caring role can leave them at breaking point. A respite break is an opportunity for them to have time away from their caring responsibilities knowing that the person they normally look after is receiving round-the-clock care. Leuchie is the only respite facility in Scotland able to provide such complex clinical care in a non-clinical environment. Over the past six years, Leuchie has become widely recognised as a centre for excellence in providing short respite breaks with a person-centred approach to care. With limited opportunities for respite in the UK, guests travel significant distances just to get a break. In 2018, guests came from 28 of Scotland's 32 local authorities and 20 English local authorities. Given the limited provision of respite services in Scotland, Leuchie House is vital for people with an increasingly diverse and complex range of conditions.