Helping Sarah rebuild confidence through reablement support
Reablement care is often seen as a way to help people regain mobility after illness, injury, or a hospital stay. But for many individuals, the support they need is not just physical. ECL’s West Sussex Community Reablement Service also works with people living with complex mental health conditions who may find everyday tasks overwhelming.
People like Sarah. Sarah lives with bi‑polar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, both of which can leave her feeling anxious, exhausted, and unable to cope with daily life. She lives alone and over time, she began to struggle with personal care and stopped following her normal routines.
Despite the encouragement of her two daughters, Sarah found it harder and harder to motivate herself to wash, shower, or eat properly. Recognising that she needed support, she contacted adult social care and was referred to ECL’s West Sussex Community Reablement Service.
ECL arranged a short, once-daily package of reablement support designed to help Sarah regain structure and independence. Together, Sarah and her community care assistant set three clear goals:
- To remember to take her medication every day within two weeks.
- To complete a daily wash or shower within three weeks.
- To prepare ingredients for a meal each day, even if she cooked later, within three weeks.
The first week was challenging. Sarah found it difficult to engage with the routine, and initially only managed to prepare ingredients for meals. But by the second week, she began to make real progress. With gentle encouragement, practical advice, and consistent support from her care assistant, Sarah gradually started to rebuild her confidence.
At first, I was very resistant to the help but it has been really good for me. The last two weeks have helped me so much.
Sarah, ECL West Sussex Community Reablement Customer
One of the simple but effective strategies her carer suggested was setting an alarm on her mobile phone to remind her to take her medication. This small change made a big difference.
Sarah said: “I haven’t forgotten to take any of my tablets since setting the alarm and have even taken them before the alarm has gone off. I feel I am now in a good routine, although I am scared I might slip back into bad habits. But if this happens, I will get in touch with social services again for support.”
As Sarah’s anxiety began to lessen, she became more able to take care of herself.
She added: “At first, I was very resistant to the help but it has been really good for me. The last two weeks have helped me so much. I was really anxious but didn’t realise, and the carers have calmed me down which meant I have been able to have a shower every day, eat and take my medication.”
By the end of her reablement journey, Sarah had achieved all three goals. Most importantly, she felt more in control and more hopeful. With the right support, she rediscovered routines that helped her feel safe, stable, and independent.
Sarah’s story shows that reablement is not only about physical recovery, it can also provide a lifeline for people living with mental health challenges. With compassionate, tailored support, individuals like Sarah can rediscover their strength and rebuild everyday independence.