Client Case Study - Rupert

Continuing our series of case studies to help inform as to how our managed home care services can help to keep a loved one active and engaged in activities they enjoy.

Rupert moved to Callington in mid-2020 after making a mutual decision with his family to live closer. He moved into an annex built on his daughter’s property, leaving behind his previous home near Plymouth, where he had spent the last 30 years. His former home, a lovely cottage with a beautiful view of Cawsand Bay, provided Rupert enjoyment through daily walks along the coast paths and beaches, as well as occasional swims in the sea. The move to Callington, although well intentioned and allowed Rupert to be closer to his family, marked a significant change to his environment, negatively affecting his lifestyle. Rupert struggled with the transition to the annex, as he deeply missed his views and walks his old cottage had. These were an integral part of his routine and happiness.

Rupert was diagnosed with early-stage dementia in late 2019. Initially, his condition was stable, but in July 2021 there was a noticeable deterioration in his health. During this time, Rupert’s family sought additional support to improve Rupert’s wellbeing and health. Initially we would find Rupert wanting to stay in bed all day and was not eating like normal. As the care pros got to know Rupert better, they noticed how much he enjoyed going on trips. Initially, these trips were quite short, but they soon became full-day expeditions. Rupert responded positively to being outside again, whether that was in the countryside, to cafes, or walks along the coast. In particular, Rupert would enjoy listening to his favourite music and enjoying the passing scenery when in the car, driving to some of these places.

However, by late 2022, Rupert’s dementia had worsened significantly, necessitating longer and more frequent visits from the care professionals. Although he continued to enjoy going out on long drives and visiting local coffee shops, he was beginning to have more accidents at home, especially when care professionals were not present. This raised concerns about his safety and the adequacy of his current living situation.

As Rupert’s condition continued to decline, the need for full-time care became evident. His family considered options such as overnight care to provide additional support when carers used to be absent, but ultimately, the decision was made to transfer Rupert to a local care home. Our carers helped to ease the transition into the care home by continuing to go into the care home and offer support from a familiar face. The 24/7 support from the care home provided both Rupert and his family the peace of mind they needed, marking an improvement in their overall well-being, despite the progression of his dementia. 

We hope you find this case study useful.  If you would like any further information, please write to us at [email protected] or by post to Home Instead, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock PL19 0BZ. Alternatively, you can also call us 01822 258292.