When Leanne moved into her own home she had reservations and fears about how she would cope. But Selby Adult and Community Services telecare support has provided her with the confidence she needs to go about her daily life.
Leanne, 24, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2001. In 2007 she decided to leave her parents’ home and go to live alone. At first Leanne struggled with some day to day tasks such as bathing and shopping. Rarely able to leave her home, she lost self-confidence and began to feel low.
“I let myself go a bit” says Leanne. “I didn’t feel nice about myself at all. I wasn’t cooking, I was scared of what might happen, I might drop something. I wasn’t getting in the bath a lot. Everything went to pot in here.”
Leanne’s GP recommended she speak to an occupational therapist (OT) and a telecare co-ordinator who were part of her local Adult and Community Services team. Having assessed her needs, telecare support was set up in Leanne’s home. Leanne is very positive about the impact it has had on her life.
“It’s made me feel a whole lot better about myself, a hell of a lot better on my own,” she says. “I haven’t got any bad words for the support team, they’re absolutely brilliant.”
Adult and Community Services aims to provide care, enablement, specialist assessments and Telecare to ensure that an individual gets the support they need to remain in their own homes and look after themselves.
Leanne’s package includes a watch and lifeline-system, connecting care workers to Leanne in case of emergency, and a system that is triggered by any abnormal activity such as fire, dramatic heat increases or a fall.
A new bathroom has also been put in to Leanne’s house following her assessment. The support team (including Housing Support) also pay regular visits to Leanne to check the system is working and assess her ongoing needs.
Leanne has been using the system for just over a year. She now has the freedom and confidence to carry on with her day to day life, safe in the knowledge that the system would alert someone to help if there was a problem.
“I know if something does happen somebody’s at the end of a phone,” she says. “I can do more in my house. I know that I can go out with my head held high.”
At first, Leanne felt that telecare was something for older people, and she was concerned how it would be seen by others. She feels differently having used it.
“The stuff that I’ve got doesn’t look old, it’s got everything. Its absolutely fantastic because I feel tons better about myself,” she says. “It’s not just for the elderly. It’s not just for people with disabilities, it’s for everybody who needs it.”
Leanne is unwaveringly enthusiastic about the impact telecare has had on her day- to- day life.
“When I was at my Mum and Dad’s I would rely on them to get me things,” she says. “But now I’ve got this and I think, I’ve got to do it myself, and if anything happens I know that [the telecare support] is there. It’s a bit of responsibility for me. I know I’ve got to get up for something.
“Before, I felt like I didn’t have a life. I felt like I was existing. That’s all. Now I feel better about my flat, and you know, I’m proud of myself. It’s nice.”
And Leanne has ambitions to take other challenges next – to give up smoking, and to speak to others at the MS society about the care and support she is getting from the telecare and her carers.
Over 2,000 people in North Yorkshire and their carers benefit from a range of technology and support and Leanne is very keen to encourage others to take it up, especially young people.
“I’m more independent now. It’s made my life easier. I think that’s why I want to get other people to come forward and get the support,” she says.