Doris
Following a spell in hospital due to undergoing a knee replacement, Doris was eager to return home, but needed some extra help to support with her recovery. Jan, one of ECL’s Trusted Assessors, visited her in hospital to discuss if she would be suitable to be discharged with the support of ECL’s short-term enablement service at home.
"Being at home with my dog Teddy and being independent is the best feeling!"
As Jan explains: “When I went to visit Doris on the ward, we discussed the elements of her daily living tasks that she would find difficult following her knee op, such as getting in and out of bed, personal care including getting dressed, meal and fluid preparation and general confidence-building.
“Doris explained that although she already had the equipment she needed in situ, her family were unable to help her on a regular basis. We established that she would benefit from a six-week enablement package to rebuild her confidence and independence at home.
“After liaising with the ECL planner, we were able to have Doris discharged from hospital within two and a half hours, and she was driven home in an ECL vehicle so that she didn’t have to wait for hospital transportation.”
Doris was accompanied home by Jan, who ensured she was settled and comfortable, with a cup of tea. Jan explained to Doris everything that she could expect from her ECL enablement care plan, which included visits from Community Care Assistants four times a day.
Over the following weeks, the care team supported Doris with daily tasks and helped her to manage her medication and pain relief. ECL physiotherapist, Jon, visited Doris to put some exercises in place that she could do in order build her walking strength. The care staff worked with Doris every day on her exercises and within three and half weeks, she had progressed from mobilising with a walking frame to walking independently!
After four weeks, Jan assessed Doris and established that she was managing really well independently, without the need for any additional support or equipment, so it was decided that her visits would be reduced to one per day for the duration of her care plan, in order to work through her exercises.
Doris is now delighted with her regained independence, and she says of the care she received from ECL: “The carers were excellent. They were very helpful and always asked me what they could do to help me. I couldn’t fault them at all.
“I was having four calls a day and I could only walk with a frame. I couldn’t do any housework, but after their support, I can now walk independently and am doing my own housework.
“Being at home with my dog Teddy and being independent is the best feeling!”
