Suzy’s tale - step by step, we've opened new doors...
Suzy today enjoys life and opportunities to the full at her care home in Brightlands, Rochester. She has changed so much from the person who arrived at the home three years ago. She had moved from an environment where she was left to her own company too often, with very little external stimuli and general support. Her communication limited to a yes-no box and use of facial expression, the care she experienced induced challenging behaviour and a continuing desire to be left alone and avoid public outings. Wheelchair bound due to lack of muscle tone in her legs, her callipers eventually became non-effective as limited exercise made her progressively weaker.
Arriving at Brightlands, Suzy’s care plan immediately highlighted several key areas of focus which in the weeks and months ahead enabled her to look at life in an entirely different way. With a dedicated one to one key worker, communication evolved making her become a lot more expressive and empowering her to have more choice in her daily plan and activities. From somebody not wanting to experience the outside, she started to enjoy days out and more importantly, the company of other staff and residents. A regime of regular exercise including swimming also gave Suzy strength in her legs to become independent of her wheelchair within her room and the communal areas.
Three years on and Suzy is now leading an enriched life and is very much a key member of the Brightlands community. Out every day, Suzy takes full advantage of the busy events calendar organised by her care teams. Her parents visit her every fortnight and are delighted with the progress she has made. Suzy’s care plan is regularly reviewed with many new milestones met as her time at Brightlands continues. Nigel McCann of Brightlands explains more about Suzy’s progress: “Suzy’s journey has seen so many changes in the time that she has been with us. Together we have worked with her giving her confidence to influence her daily routine. Her care plan has addressed the many challenges that arrived with her and now it’s all about opening new doors and opportunities for Suzy to flourish even more.”