Mr C’s Reablement Homecare Story

Our time with Mr C shows how a well-planned reablement package and a compassionate homecare team can transform a Client’s life, leading to a new passion for chair yoga.

Mr C and his family contacted Right at Home Grantham & Newark following a period of ill health, which meant he now had to rely on others during his day-to-day life. 

He was dependent on oxygen, and required assistance with daily tasks including personal care, meal preparation, and staying hydrated. He felt isolated staying in the house all day; he needed friendly companionship to give him the chance to socialise.

When we first met Mr C, he was receiving a reablement package from another care provider, but his family believed he could improve further with more support, which is why they contacted Right at Home Grantham & Newark.

Our care and support plan included clear short-term goals, such as personal care and mobility support, as well as long-term goals like building confidence through meaningful activities—ultimately leading to Mr C taking part in our community chair yoga sessions.

How Did Right at Home Design Mr C’s Care & Support Plan?

We took the time to understand Mr C’s requirements fully. Our Managing Director Anand and Registered Manager Billie both attended the initial care assessment carried out at his home. 

This assessment, which included input from both Mr C and his family, provided us with a full picture of not only his physical and practical care requirements, but also his personality, preferences, routines, and long-term goals.

This allowed us to design a bespoke care and support plan that was not only appropriate for his reablement needs, but also fully personalised to Mr C himself. 

Our team worked together with Mr C’s family to ensure everyone felt confident and involved in the journey ahead. Our person-centred approach keeps the Client at the centre of their own care, keeping them engaged and in control of their own goals and routines. 

In Mr C’s case, we offered support with washing, dressing, and preparing meals. In terms of his reablement requirements, we also gave daily tailored assistance and encouragement so he could begin building strength and confidence. 

As his confidence grew, our companionship service also enabled him to enjoy outings in his favourite Newark spots that he used to frequent. With the support of a dedicated Care Assistant, he started to visit Sconce and Devon park again, safe in the knowledge that he would have assistance when needed.

Setting Small Goals and Celebrating Big Wins

Mr C had a positive mindset and was determined to get better—he just needed the right support and framework for improvement, provided by our experienced team of care professionals. 

In order to aid Mr C’s progress, we set small, achievable goals with him. 

One of the most important and personal goals for Mr C was to prepare his own lunch again. In particular, he wanted to be able to make his favourite lunch, which is a classic beans on toast. In the early days of his care, opening a tin of beans was a real challenge due to his reduced grip strength and fine motor skills.

Whether it’s reablement or other types of care services, we always promote independence and quality of life. At Right at Home Grantham & Newark, homecare isn’t about someone coming in and taking over, we emphasise the importance of retaining as much independence as possible and living life on your own terms.

Instead of just carrying out meal preparation themselves, our Carers took the time to support their Client to start building the strength and confidence needed to make lunch for himself again.

How Did We Help Mr C Succeed?

Our Carers implemented a reablement strategy to help Mr C regain the ability to make lunch.

First, they broke the process down into smaller steps to make the task more manageable. The Carers practiced hand exercises with Mr C to gradually improve his grip and coordination. They also used a small stress ball to build up the strength in his hands. Mr C’s Carers offered reassurance and support throughout, and encouraged him to take on a little bit more of the task each time.

With persistence, practice, and patience, Mr C’s ability grew and he began to manage making beans on toast by himself.

Reaching personal goals made a big difference in restoring Mr C’s self-esteem, and helped propel him to more ambitious targets, and eventually led him to gain the confidence to get stuck in with some chair yoga sessions.

Mr C’s New Passion: Chair Yoga

When we suggested chair yoga as a beneficial and enjoyable activity for Mr C, he was still regaining his strength. His mobility was limited, and while his usual positive outlook was still on display, his confidence in moving independently and meeting new people was understandably low.

However, we knew that chair yoga could have a significant positive impact on Mr C’s physical and mental wellbeing. We took a person-centred and personalised approach to Mr C’s care and, taking into account his initial concerns, our Managing Director Anand, a qualified Chair Yoga instructor, offered weekly one-to-one chair yoga sessions in Mr C’s own home. This offer, along with trust in our team and a desire to improve and work towards joining a community class, motivated Mr C to give chair yoga a go.

How Can Chair Yoga Help as Part of Reablement?

This gentle yet effective practice helped improve Mr C’s mobility, balance, and coordination—and most importantly, it gave him back a sense of control. Sitting in the garden practicing mobility was especially enjoyable for him, as he has a passion for gardening and planting flowers. The yoga sessions outside gave him a chance to enjoy his garden and chat about it with his Carers.

At first, his movements were cautious and slow, but over time, chair yoga helped improve:

• Mobility – Gentle stretches and joint mobilisation exercises helped increase his range of motion, particularly in the shoulders, wrists, and spine.
• Balance and Stability – Functional movements and breathwork supported his posture and reduced his risk of falls.
• Confidence – As he began to feel more in control of his body, Mr C’s self-belief returned. He started to look forward to the sessions and eventually expressed interest in joining a community class.

Joining a Community Chair Yoga Class

With Mr C’s renewed confidence, he showed a growing desire to reconnect with life outside of the home. As Mr C gained strength and self-assurance, he felt ready to take the next step, and joined our community-based Chair Yoga classes. 

This marked a huge milestone in his journey, not only for physical recovery, but also for his emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

Mr C reconnected with old friends, made new ones, and became part of a vibrant, supportive community. Accompanied by one of our reliable Carers, he could confidently take part, knowing that there would be support there if he needed it.

Right at Home’s Commitment 

Our comprehensive support not only provided Kevin with the practical everyday assistance he required, but also contributed to a positive shift in his emotional wellbeing, self-confidence and quality of life, while giving his family peace of mind.

At Right at Home Guildford & Farnham, we emphasise the importance of personalised and empathetic care, whatever your situation may be. 

We are committed to offering the highest quality homecare, delivered with dignity and compassion. Our range of services is adaptable and can be tailored to your requirements, routines and preferences.

Contact us to find out more about how we can support you or your loved one.