Homecare Support Plans That
Build Trust: Brenda's Story

Our time with Brenda shows how thoughtful personal care and a well-designed support plan can make all the difference when it comes to living life to the full.

We first met Brenda after her daughter reached out to us to enquire about a package of care. Her mother had extremely high levels of anxiety following a hospital stay, and it was causing health issues and impacting her quality of life. When her anxiety was at its highest, she would experience tremors, breathing difficulties, and unpredictable behaviour. 

Brenda was living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so she required oxygen therapy, and she had also developed a rash called Lichen Planus that caused her to feel anxiety relating to how she looked.

Brenda’s family were worried. Ideally, they wanted her to continue living in her own home with a higher quality of life and better management of her health conditions. Her daughter contacted us to find out if a package of care from Right at Home Basingstoke could achieve this.

Challenges and Concerns

At first, Brenda struggled with the idea of accepting support.

She was extremely worried about having a new person come into her home. Another one of her fears was that the Carer would come into her house and take over, telling her what to do and stopping her from doing things for herself. This is a common worry that we encounter when it comes to arranging care for the first time, and our Carers have substantial experience supporting our Clients to overcome these concerns.

Despite her apprehension, Brenda agreed it would be good to try home care and told her family it would be helpful to have support with personal care, meal preparation, and medication management.

Overcoming Challenges and Creating a Care Plan

At Right at Home Basingstoke, we’re committed to providing person-centred care that keeps each individual as the focus of their own care and support plan. 

We were sure to keep Brenda’s specific worries in mind when designing her plan, and confirmed she was comfortable at all times with the level of care provided.

The first step in designing our care and support plans is to carry out a full assessment. In Brenda’s case, the assessor was someone with a personal understanding of anxiety who took extra time to ensure she didn’t feel rushed or pressured. 

Our team also thought carefully about which Carers would be the right fit for Brenda’s care requirements and personality. They needed to be calm, patient, understand anxiety, and have the skills to support Brenda’s health needs.

To make sure all our Clients are comfortable from the outset, we have a “no strangers” policy in place. Brenda met all of our office team so that she could put a face to a name if she called up, and they introduced her to the Carers who would be carrying out her support visits. Each Carer took the time to get to know Brenda, alongside establishing a care routine that worked for her.

This included:

• Personal care tailored to Brenda’s preferences
• Meal planning led by Brenda’s own decisions
• Household cleaning tasks for a comfortable home environment

Brenda’s preferences were taken into account every step of the way. Her care and support plan was created with a strong emphasis on what Brenda could do herself, and what she would like support with, ensuring her dignity and independence were maintained. 

We also ensured we had clear information on the signs and symptoms of Brenda’s health conditions, and instructions on what to do in the event of an emergency. This meant her Carers could effectively determine the difference between a medical emergency and an anxiety attack, and provide the right support.

Building Trust Through the Human Connection

The Carers gained Brenda’s trust gradually, creating a solid relationship. After a short time, Brenda’s anxiety over receiving personal care had disappeared, and she considered her Carers as friends, sharing stories and bantering about her love of men in uniform… and Tom Hardy in particular!

Our hardworking office team ensured that Brenda had a regular team of Carers arriving at a set time so she knew who to expect and when. Our person-centred care addressed Brenda’s specific, individual requirements, resulting in lower anxiety levels. 

GP calls and hospital admissions were a big source of fear for Brenda, and after receiving homecare there was a marked reduction in the need for these medical interventions. Thanks to the deep trust and genuine relationship Brenda had formed with her Carers, she also became more open to receiving medical intervention where required.

Brenda felt that her quality of life had improved, and she was able to participate fully in her daily routine and complete her desired tasks.

According to Brenda, the social connection she felt with her Carers made her feel safe and included at all times. She felt she had a voice and could speak up, asking for advice and support where required.

Brenda’s daughter told us, “The Right at Home team has made such a huge difference in my mother’s life.”

An enhanced quality of life continued, allowing Brenda to stay independent at home, according to her wishes, until she passed away. Our team continued to support her family during that difficult time.

Could You Benefit From Personal Care at Home?

At Right at Home Basingstoke, we ensure that we have a full understanding of our Clients’ situation and how their unmet care requirements are affecting them as an individual. This allows us to create an effective care and support plan, with clear instructions on what to do, and how best for our Carers to support the Client. This includes all aspects of care, from practical tasks and healthcare needs, to emotional wellbeing considerations and companionship. 

When it came to supporting Brenda, our Carers had all the tools they needed to build a strong relationship with Brenda that not only reduced her anxiety and enhanced her quality of life, but made a difference at a key time when she required good quality care to ensure she could stay at home as she wished. 

Her story shows the massive difference that personal care can make to emotional wellbeing and quality of life, maintaining independence and dignity. If you think personal care could enhance your daily routine, or you know someone who could benefit from homecare visits, contact Right at Home Basingstoke to find out how we can help.