Long term care

Robert has received live-in care from Helping Hands East Midlands for over three years now and is supported by two regular carers, Linda and Tracy. They both like to ensure that Robert remains stimulated and engaged; whilst he is quite a private person, Robert appreciates and enjoys his carers’ companionship and support. He realises that he couldn’t manage without them.

Linda recognises that whilst Robert likes to take a daily walk, he prefers someone to walk with him. He will walk further if he has a purpose, so, because Robert is so fond of dogs, he and the carer have befriended the neighbour’s dog Penny and offer to take her out for a walk most days. Since they have been doing this, Robert is walking much further and thoroughly enjoys his daily constitutional.

Tracy is not a dog lover. Nevertheless, she encourages Robert to go out for his daily walk and likes to engage him in other activities, such as completing jigsaws together or making chocolate rice krispies or cornflake cakes. He loves to help, and enjoys licking the bowl afterwards!

Meet Hannah, a bright and bubbly 27-year-old with a great sense of humour and positive outlook on life. She loves music and was even lucky enough to watch the Rolling Stones live at the London Stadium in 2018! She also lives with cerebral palsy and has done since birth. Since starting care with Helping Hands in March, she describes her experience as “life-changing”.

Hannah attended mainstream school and led an active life just like any other child. Yet in September 2018, Hannah’s condition dramatically changed.

Hannah had her nineteenth operation to remove metal work placed during a reconstruction which was threatening to break through the skin. Unfortunately, she was left with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in her leg – a chronic pain condition that causes a significant amount of pain that is confined to a specific area.

Dana, an hourly carer from our Tunbridge Wells branch, began visiting Hannah once a week in March 2019 and it has totally transformed Hannah’s life. Instead of only having hospital appointments as a regular means of leaving her house, she now looks forward to Mondays, which is when Dana visits her.

One thing that Hannah requested was for Dana not to wear her uniform when she accompanied her out in the community. She also doesn’t refer to Dana as her carer, but as her personal assistant or PA. It was important to Hannah as a young person that she could feel comfortable with Dana and that she wasn’t being judged.

Hannah says: “Monday is my one day of normality each week and I really look forward to it. Dana and I really like each other and there’s always so much laughter between us!”