Learning disabilities Using person-centred care to improve Andy’s mental wellbeing
Meet Andy!
Andy is 57 years old and has been living in our residential care home, Orchard Leigh, for over 14 years. Andy has learning disabilities, hearing difficulties and speech issues. He is a friendly and cheerful person who loves spending time looking after animals and is an important resident at Orchard Leigh.
Andy’s challenges
Andy used to be an active member in the Orchard Leigh household until his mental health started declining. He took medication for depression, but after a GP review, they were withdrawn, as they were deemed unnecessary for Andy.
However, a few months later, the team at Orchard Leigh and his family became increasingly concerned about Andy’s wellbeing. He had become withdrawn and would stay in his room, isolated from staff and the other residents. This left Andy feeling frustrated so when he eventually left his room, he resorted to shouting as a form of communication with staff.
Making positive changes
The team at Orchard Leigh supported Andy to get back to his friendly, cheerful self by contacting his GP to further review his medication. At this visit, the GP suggested an amendment to his medication.
Andy also received support from our behavioural support practitioner who provided Andy and the staff at Orchard Leigh with new coping mechanisms and de-escalation techniques, that would help them reach positive outcomes with Andy’s behaviour.
Implementing continuous small changes alongside our person-centred approach, meant the team could re-discover what worked best for Andy, resulting in positive changes in his behaviour.
Overcoming the challenges
After working with Andy to make sure he was getting the right medication and support, he is now emotionally and physically healthier and a happier man as a result, all within just 18 months!
He now engages with the staff and residents daily and has become an active, helpful member of the house again. He offers to make the team and the residents drinks and regularly helps to clear away the table after eating. He even helps out with Orchard Leigh’s resident ducks and has established himself as the go-to volunteer responsible for their wellbeing! He cleans the duck pen, feeds the ducks and makes sure they are well looked after.
Andy has also taken steps to develop his independence with the support of the team at Orchard Leigh. He discusses and arranges weekly meal plans with staff, ensuring it’s packed with everything he likes. As well as this, he has even started to cook his own meals and keep the kitchen clean and tidy.
Looking to the future
Andy is now looking to further his independence skills and set himself new goals to meet for the new year. He aims to continue to use his iPad to keep in contact with his family as well as, continuing to plan his next holiday!
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