Supporting John and Mary to Stay at Home, Together
When our clients John and Mary wanted to stay together and remain in their own home, our flexible approach made sure that happened.
Our clients, John and Mary, have built a wonderful life together in southwest London. Originally from Mayo in the west of Ireland, they came to London to work and raise their two children. They love where they live and one thing was always clear—they want to stay at home together as they got older.
At Home Instead Wimbledon & Kingston, we understand how important home is and so worked with John, Mary and their children to ensure their wishes are fulfilled. Their family know that if their care needs change, we will continue to work closely with them and their family to make sure they had the right support in place, without compromising their independence or privacy.
Recognising When Extra Support Was Needed
Mary has always been independent, and John has a sociable, easy-going nature. When Mary was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, things started to shift and her ability to stay independent become limited due to mobility issues. Mary had a spell in hospital, meanwhile her husband, John, found himself facing his own challenges.
Their sons are very supportive, but living some distance away meant that day-to-day tasks were becoming harder to manage for the couple. Their children wanted to be sure their parents were safe and had everything they needed, while maintaining their parent-son relationship and not becoming carers.
That’s where we stepped in. After a detailed consultation, we worked with them to build a tailored plan with a small team of Care Professionals, supporting them with:
✔ Mobility assistance to help Mary move around safely.
✔ Medication support to keep on top of their prescriptions.
✔ Personal care that fits around their daily routine.
✔ Meal preparation to ensure they have fresh, nutritious meals.
✔ Household tasks to help with general upkeep.
The key was to put a plan in place that worked for them—not just in terms of their care needs, but their lifestyle and preferences too.
Adapting as Needs Changed
Care isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. As Mary’s condition progressed and John needed more support, we reviewed and adapted their care plan to make sure they had the right level of help at the right time.
This meant:
🕒 Adjusting visit times to align with medication schedules and meal preparation.
🦽 Ensuring Care Professionals were fully trained in the latest mobility equipment.
📝 Keeping detailed care notes so that every Care Professional was up to date.
💬 Having regular conversations with their family, keeping them involved and informed.
By staying ahead of these changes, we’ve helped John and Mary continue living at home safely and comfortably, while giving their family reassurance that they’re receiving the right care.
Building Trust and Familiarity
For John and Mary, the biggest difference has been the consistency of care. Having a small, trusted team of Care Professionals means they’ve been able to build relationships, making daily support feel natural and unobtrusive.
John, in particular, has found it helpful to have a reliable team in place, especially after finding previous hospital stays difficult to manage on his own. Now, he has the reassurance of knowing that help is there when needed.
When asked about their experience, John and Mary describe the Home Instead team as “brilliant.” Their sons are also pleased with the support in place, knowing their parents are in good hands.
A Practical Approach to Staying at Home
John and Mary’s story is a great example of how flexible, well-planned care can make all the difference, not just for individuals but for couples too. With the right support in place, they’ve been able to continue living in their own home, maintaining their routines and their independence.
At Home Instead Wimbledon & Kingston, our expert Care Professionals focus on providing care that works around your needs, whether that’s help with mobility, daily tasks, or simply knowing someone is there when needed.
If you’re looking for personalised home care, get in touch with our team today.
