We met Margaret because even though she was very independent, after her husband Bill passed away, she was beginning to struggle with housework and looking after her dog, Toby.
We made sure that Margaret no longer had to worry about household chores such as the ironing and hoovering, allowing her more time to spend doing the things she enjoyed like reading, knitting and visiting friends. Because Bill had taken care of most of the DIY during their marriage, we were also there to support when little jobs around the house needed attention.
Margaret soon found that as well as having help with the everyday practical tasks, she also really enjoyed the company of Lucy, one of our Wellbeing Support Workers… who was a big hit with Toby too! Although we initially met Margaret to help her with jobs around the house which she was very grateful for, it was the relationship she developed with Lucy that helped her adjust to life without Bill, and she loves to share stories about their lives together.
Support isn’t only about the physical things you need. You might need emotional support after a life-changing event, too. Our BelleVie Teams have an approach that focuses on what matters to you, rather than what’s the matter with you. Martin’s story is just one example of how our BelleVie Wellbeing Support Workers gave him the support and information that helped make a difference to him. After a very sudden and unexpected stroke, Martin needed some support with his personal care. Our team met with him shortly after he was discharged from hospital with a view to help. Martin and the team started to discover how best to adjust, not only to his home and lifestyle, but to support him in the transition to life post-stroke. When asked what the team could do best to really support him, the answer came; ‘be forward thinking’. This meant not focusing on limits, instead asking “What can I do next?”.
The team all agreed there was so much that Martin was able to do, and they just needed to work together to make sure it happened. One of the team’s main aims was to get Martin ‘feeling like Martin’ again; even if that just meant having a nice chat. Martin and his family said the most meaningful part of the experience was the connections made with the team, and they loved how BelleVie Wellbeing Support Workers go above and beyond. From picking up prescriptions to getting a bit of shopping, or even a favourite treat Martin had been missing from the local bakery, nothing was too much trouble for our crew. The family also found that our team were able to make Martin’s life more comfortable and fulfilling. Most importantly, Martin felt supported at a challenging time in his life, because of the way the team worked with him and listened to his wishes.
When we first visited Sheila we quickly understood how we could help improve Sheila’s quality of life. She was frustrated that she was stuck in the house all day, and would often be bored, which was affecting her both mentally and physically.
We built a relationship with Sheila, and found out what she really enjoyed doing – ultimately the things that got her out of bed in the morning and brought a smile to her face. One of our very talented Wellbeing Support Workers, Lisa, was able to find out this information because she had the time to build a trusting, personal relationship with Sheila. Lisa discovered she enjoyed bird watching, which we facilitated by providing a spare pair of binoculars to replace her broken ones. Sheila also loved going to the movies, so Lisa accompanied her to a pop-up cinema organised by Age UK. As well as activities, Sheila also enjoys the companionship of others and likes to share stories with Lisa over a cup of tea about her time as a nurse.
Sheila’s quality of life has greatly improved, and our support has enabled her to meet new people as well as having a great relationship with Lisa. They even recently discovered that Sheila and Lisa’s mum worked at the same hospital!
When Edith’s family first contacted us they explained that Edith had dementia, and they were looking for someone to support her with taking her medication. After speaking with Edith at her home, we realised there were many ways we could support her to live a more fulfilling life, beyond just getting by each day.
One of our Wellbeing Support Workers, Josephine, built a really good rapport with Edith, and she quickly understood what brought a smile to her face. Edith often spoke about a local area, Farmoor Reservoir, that she used to visit regularly with her husband. She had many special memories of walking around the reservoir and having picnics, but she hadn’t visited since her husband passed away. Josephine decided to organise a trip to the reservoir, and they walked around chatting while Edith reminisced about her time with her husband.
Josephine also discovered that Edith had stopped playing the piano because she struggled to read the music. To resolve this, Josephine found an old hymn that Edith was fond of and photocopied the notes to enlarge them, making them easier to read. Edith enjoyed playing the piano, while Josephine sang along.
When Edith started to struggle to get the required fluid intake, we introduced Jelly Drops (sweets containing 90% water endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Society). Edith liked the colours of the sweets, and the fact they were solid, easy to swallow and flavoured.
By taking a holistic approach to Edith’s support rather than just focusing on the practical side of care, we were able to help Edith to enjoy life again.
