How Does It Work?
Personal Case Studies
‘MARY’ (not her real name) lost her husband and had been in hospital after two falls. She lacked confidence and missed the community she’d known through the shared activities of her marriage. She was depressed, resigned to going into a residential home and steady decline thereafter.
Referred to Upstream by the occupational therapist and the multi-disciplinary team who were unable to make progress with her, Mary was visited by a mentor and gently encouraged to try out a small activity group in the village. The mentor arranged transport and introduced her. She was reluctant to participate but encouraged by the others, who had joined the group in similar ways, she took a tentative interest in recording memories on tape, using sketchbooks and doing gentle Tai Chi.
To her surprise, she started to make friends and found she had an aptitude for painting. ‘It wasn’t what farming families did,’ she said, ‘we just worked.’ She took her sketchbook home and her daughter wanted to see more. ‘There you are,’ she said with satisfaction, ‘they want to keep me working!’ The mentor remained in contact with Mary but the group dynamics took over and people enthused each other about new and shared skills. They maintained mutual contact outside the regular activity group.
The OT, health visitor and daughter all noticed a more positive attitude. Mary began to discuss how to manage for longer in her own home. ‘It isn’t good to shut yourself away,’ she said. The group now organises its own activities and Mary is helping to promote an exhibition of all their art in their local surgery.
As a result of the mentor’s intervention, Mary will be confident enough to stay in her own home for longer. The social and stimulating activities that she is enjoying will largely replace the need for reassurance visits to her GP and health visitors to her home. Her balance is improved alongside her confidence and mobility, which will reduce the chances of subsequent falls. She is taking greater interest in her food and has become a more interesting person to be with for her family and friends; her social contacts have increased; she has a role to play in the community. The mentor will maintain occasional contact with Mary and others in the group to ensure they are happy with what they are doing and to watch for any signs of decline that might need to be referred back to the multi-disciplinary team before they become more serious. All these changes represent real economic benefits that greatly outweigh the investment in the mentor intervention and long-term monitoring in the community.
‘NANCY’ (who attended another group that became independent): Within a period of 12 days, one lady broke her wrist, had a cataract operation and her 83rd birthday but missed only one meeting and was determined to master new skills because she had never had the opportunity, encouragement or friendship before. Going to the group also made her resolve to have a hearing aid: she had not felt the need before but other participants encouraged her. At first she was inhibited by her Devonshire accent but expanded when everyone said it was special. She completed all the shots in the camera provided by Upstream, which delighted her and surprised her family.
