Retired teacher supported back to independence by former pupil
Former teacher Gill, 74, was admitted to Broomfield hospital following an injury to her knee. When she was discharged, she received support at home from ECL’s South West Essex Reablement Service.
The team helped with personal care and meal preparation as well as supporting her with working towards becoming more mobile. On the first visit from ECL, Gill discovered she had connections to her care team beyond ECL - one of her Community Care Assistants was a former pupil! She also knew another one of her Care Assistants from a previous job she’d had at Basildon Hospital.
Gill said: “I was so down when I came out of hospital about having my knee in a brace. I was so independent before and I felt so frustrated and depressed about going from being able to do everything for myself to needing so much help. I cried a lot and the ECL team were so kind, they told me it’s OK to have a cry and gave me lots of encouragement and praise as I progressed which made such a difference to how I felt.
“You feel like your dignity’s been taken away from you when you lose that independence and need help with personal care and the ECL carers managed to provide care without any embarrassment on my part which I really appreciated. The ECL team were so lovely, I felt like we almost became friends. They were all very kind and offered lots of encouragement. I know that I would have not reached the stage of independence I have so far without their support as well as the support of my family."
My carers were absolute angels. They made me feel like I mattered. They gave me hope and encouragement to know that I was going to get through it and get my independence back.
