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John's story
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John suffered a severe brain injury following an assault
in June 2007. He was treated in hospital before being admitted to West Heath House in December 2007.
Following his injury John’s difficulties included memory
problems, disorientation, lack of initiation and a tendency to isolate
himself. |
These difficulties were further complicated by John’s lack of awareness into these difficulties, which is common after a brain injury. This meant that John:
required high levels of staff supervision 24 hours per day
required support and encouragement to complete activities of daily living, such as washing and dressing, preparing a simple meal, keeping his room clean and tidy, and completing his laundry
required prompting to ensure that his basic needs were met, as he did not initiate requests for food, drinks, or cigarettes
was supervised when using the kitchen and also when accessing the community due to poor awareness of danger.
Assessment
John underwent a full assessment at West Heath House. This included regular meetings with the on-site interdisciplinary team who carried out neuropsychological, physiotherapy, functional and communication evaluations.
The outcome of the assessment was used to develop rehabilitation goals with John, and to develop a structured programme of individualised neurobehavioural rehabilitation that gave John opportunities to achieve his goals and to work towards his personal long-term goal of living independently in a flat of his own.
Daily programme
John’s programme included activities of daily living such as morning routine, room tidy and laundry sessions, menu planning, shopping and cooking sessions where John could practice initiating requests and activities.
He attended individual and group therapy sessions such as the brain injury awareness group; through community access sessions he learned routes and practiced road safety.
John also had frequent contact with his nominated Key Worker (a member of the clinical team) who ensured that John felt supported and included in the process.
Progress
John made excellent progress and following in-depth discharge planning he was discharged to a supported house managed by the Community Services division of the Disabilities Trust in January 2009, where he continues to make progress towards his long-term goal.
At present John:
completes his activities of daily living independently using a wall planner as a memory aid
is able to access some areas of the local community independently
lives in a house with free access to the kitchen, which he uses to prepare three meals per day
is looking into pre-vocational placements and attends a weekly computer studies course
has a good relationship with his house mate and is able to occupy his free time in a meaningful way
is independent in many activities and requires only distant staff supervision for other activities.
John said: “West Heath House helps each person to keep motivated, to do things properly and to learn how to get on with people. They help people; I can’t knock it.”
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