Charlotte is a person we support at Esmer House, our specialist Prader-Willi syndrome residential care home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Before coming to Esmer House, Charlotte lived at Mason House – another one of our Prader-Willi syndrome homes in Nottinghamshire. She moved there in mid-2023, but after a while, Charlotte felt that Esmer House would suit her better.
Since moving to Esmer House, Charlotte has continued to smash her goals, leading a healthier lifestyle and exploring new hobbies! Now, she’s more confident and thriving in her new home.
A Fresh Start and New Opportunities
Charlotte has Prader-Willi syndrome and type-2 diabetes. These conditions have heavily impacted her life, affecting her self-confidence. Due to her Prader-Willi syndrome, we support Charlotte with healthy and calorie-controlled meals, regular exercise, creating a structured environment and helping her to manage her emotions.
While Mason House offered Charlotte great support for her needs, she didn’t quite feel it was the home for her.
As a social butterfly, Charlotte felt Esmer House was a better fit for her personality – with a lively, sociable and fun atmosphere! Charlotte had previously expressed her interest in moving to Esmer House permanently following a series of visits to meet up with other housemates there. To ensure Charlotte could fulfil this goal, the team at Esmer House, and her family, reached out to her Social Worker to put plans in place. Once the move was agreed, Charlotte was supported in moving her things over to her new home.
From her very first day, the team at Esmer House focused on building strong, trusting relationships with Charlotte. They took the time to get to know her, learn her preferences, challenges, and the things that make her happy.
Together, they set realistic and meaningful goals, one of which was to improve Charlotte’s health, particularly her diabetes management. The move represented not just a change in location, but a turning point in Charlotte’s life.
Taking charge of her diabetes
At the time of her move, Charlotte was insulin dependent, meaning she was managing her diabetes with daily insulin injections.
The team at Esmer House worked closely with Charlotte, encouraging gradual but sustainable lifestyle changes. These included healthier food choices, more activity, and regular routines. Rather than focusing on what she couldn’t do, the approach was all about empowerment, helping Charlotte realise a healthier lifestyle can be fun!
Within just three to four months of arriving at Esmer House, Charlotte had reached a milestone she never thought was possible – she was no longer insulin dependent! While she still uses medication to support her diabetes, the need for daily injections is no longer part of her life. Charlotte is thrilled and proud of what she has achieved.
Discovering a love for exercise
One of the most exciting parts of Charlotte’s journey has been her discovery of exercise, and the genuine love she has for it – something she never imagined would be the case.
At Esmer House, the people we support are encouraged to stay active and get involved with the local community. When Charlotte noticed one of the other people we support regularly heading out to the gym, she was curious. She expressed an interest to her team about also going to the gym.
She started small, purchasing a day pass to see what it was like. From the very first visit, Charlotte was hooked. She loved the experience and immediately signed up for her own gym membership. Now, she goes to the gym three times a week and loves it!
What began as a simple act of curiosity has turned into one of the most important parts of Charlotte’s week. She enjoys the feeling of accomplishment after each workout, the social atmosphere of the gym, and the boost in her physical and mental wellbeing. Most importantly, Charlotte has discovered that exercise can be something to look forward to – not just something you do for your health, but something that makes you feel good.
Embracing new hobbies
Since moving to Esmer House, Charlotte has discovered a love for new activities. She’d previously enjoyed diamond art at Mason House and was keen to expand her creative hobbies. This has taken Charlotte on a new journey… learning how to crochet!
The team found a local class and helped Charlotte attend her first session. Learning a new skill isn’t always easy, and at times Charlotte felt frustrated. There were moments when she told the team she wanted to give up, feeling overwhelmed by the difficulty of it. But the team were there, encouraging her to persevere and reminding her that it’s okay to take things at her own pace.
Now, Charlotte goes to her crochet class once a week, and she’s made incredible progress. Although she still finds it challenging at times, she’s committed to learning.
At each class, she takes detailed notes to help her remember what she’s learned. She brings these notes home, sitting at the table with a focused determination. If there’s something she doesn’t understand, she takes a moment to reflect, rereads her notes, and tries again. It’s this perseverance that’s helping Charlotte grow not just her skills, but her confidence too.
In addition to her creative pursuits, Charlotte has a new goal of growing her own chillis. She loves spending time outside, and the idea of growing her own food is something she’s really excited about.
Charlotte understands that she can’t eat the chillis until they’re fully grown, but she’s enjoying the process of nurturing the plants and watching them develop.
Her passion for gardening doesn’t stop there, Charlotte loves visiting the garden centre to pick out new flowers. She’s even done her own research into which plans grow best during particular seasons and weather conditions. She’s learned how to care for her plants and is already thinking about how to expand her garden!
Charlotte’s passion for learning and trying new things also extends to her weekly routine. Every Sunday, she sits down with the team to plan her week ahead, choosing the activities she’d like to do.
This helps her feel organised and in control of her time. If something pops up that isn’t on the planner, the team are always willing to accommodate her, ensuring she gets to enjoy the activities which are important to her.
This routine gives Charlotte structure and a sense of purpose, helping her feel empowered and confident in her day-to-day life.
Feeling empowered
The team at Esmer House believe in person-centred care that’s built around choice and empowerment. Charlotte has been involved in every part of her care plan and is supported with every lifestyle change.
This approach has helped build Charlotte’s confidence and has given her the space to explore what works for her. Whether it’s deciding to take that first trip to the gym or planning healthier meals, she has a say in it all.
The team have also created an environment where positive habits are part of everyday life. Group outings, opportunities to socialise, and regular check-ins mean there’s always something to look forward to, and someone is there to celebrate the small wins along the way.
A Happier, Healthier Charlotte
Today, Charlotte is thriving. Her health has improved significantly, and she feels more confident and in control of her wellbeing. She continues to manage her diabetes successfully without insulin, and her new gym routine has become a source of pride and joy. She’s more active, more social, and more engaged in her day-to-day life.
Since moving in, Charlotte has developed more independence and confidence, and the team couldn’t be prouder!
She’s proven to herself that she can set goals and achieve them, and that kind of confidence carries into every part of her life.
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