Wasdale Court is a specialist behavioural support service in Yorkshire. Here, our expert team support people with a range of complex behavioural needs and learning disabilities. Each day they use person-centred support to empower our housemates to feel their best, so they can live fulfilling lives.
For our housemate Toni, our team’s support changed her life in many ways. She joined us in August 2021 when she moved out of her family home. Toni needed lots of support when she first moved in with us. From daily learning disability and behavioural support, to managing her mental health, our support team were dedicated to Toni’s wellbeing.
Health had always been a struggle for Toni. With a complex health history and many conditions to navigate, Toni often found talking about her health distressing. With gentle encouragement and consistent support, she was soon able to talk to them about it. The day she expressed a desire to make some changes surrounding her reproductive health marked the start of an unexpected journey for Toni.
Always at the heart of decision making, our team supported Toni access to the healthcare she needed to make these changes. Surprisingly, they soon navigated some other changes with her, proving the importance of promoting and prioritising women’s health.
Supporting Toni’s health
Along with her learning disability and behavioural needs, Toni navigates several long-term health conditions. These include epilepsy, which causes seizures, and tuberous sclerosis, which causes tumours to develop in her brain. She also has a diagnosed mental health condition, which often makes her worry that others are trying to make decisions for her. This can result in her presenting challenging behaviours.
Soon after Toni moved in with us, our team quickly identified there may be other things affecting her mental health and behaviours. Using person-centred support, they got to know Toni as an individual. Through their expert knowledge of learning disabilities and behavioural needs, they soon established what was regular behaviour for Toni and what might be related to something else. Medication and environmental changes were two areas they identified might be unsettling Toni.
They knew family support was integral to her wellbeing before she transitioned to us. When her mum fell poorly, she received a lot of intensive, psychological support to help her manage her feelings. When her mum sadly passed, it had a deeper impact on her mental health.
As soon as she moved into Wasdale Court, Toni received round-the-clock care because of her epilepsy. This was a big change from her family supporting her, and having her team by her side was even more crucial during this challenging time. She showed signs of being stressed and experienced more seizures. Her eating was affected, and she became withdrawn.
With the compassion of her team, Toni was embraced as part of a new, extended family. Gently encouraged to express her thoughts and feelings, she found comfort in her support team.
They arranged for additional mental health and behavioural support to help her navigate her grief. Gradually, she began to understand they had her best interests at heart. Establishing a sense of trust, she soon felt empowered to share her feelings and wishes – one of which would change her health and wellbeing forever.
Winning with women’s health
With a long-term mental health condition, Toni navigated many challenges in daily life. Her diagnosed mental health condition means she worries people are forcing her to do things she doesn’t want to – even if they aren’t. Areas that particularly concern her are intimate relationships and her reproductive health.
Our team understood these were sensitive areas for Toni and always reassured her she was in control of her life. Through open and honest communication, they provided Toni with information and guidance but let her make decisions for herself.
So, when Toni discussed with our team that she wanted to adjust her long-term contraception medication, they supported her to make this transition. Together, they discussed the reasons why she wanted to make these changes and what it might mean for her health.
Understanding how changes to this medication could affect Toni’s hormones, our team were concerned about the impact it might have on her mental health.
Together, they booked a gynaecology appointment, so Toni could discuss her reproductive health with a specialist. Attending the appointment with her support team, they explored other contraceptive options, prioritising Toni’s opinions and wishes.
Transforming Toni’s health
Changing medication meant Toni would start having regular periods again. Her incredible female support team knew how uncomfortable this could be. So, they ensured they were always on hand to support her through the physical symptoms. Understanding exactly what she was going through, they provided friendly comfort and lots of hot water bottles!
Navigating the initial first few months of physical period symptoms didn’t stop Toni feeling the benefits of her brave, informed decision. Since switching to a new type of contraceptive medication, Toni’s felt more in control of her health. She’s also experienced unexpected improvements to her mental health!
Changing medication supported Toni to naturally manage her emotions. She’s also felt her physical health transform since making the switch. She’s eating a rich and varied diet and has more energy than ever before! She’s blossoming into a social butterfly and engaging with her housemates more.
Although Toni is still nervous about her health – particularly women’s health procedures – her team ensure she’s always in good health. They support her to make decisions about what appointments she wants to go ahead with and respect her choices. They communicate openly with her GP to ensure her health is maintained.
They understand health may always be a sensitive topic for Toni and talking about it can cause her distress. So, they regularly reassure her they’re always available to chat if she wants to discuss it with them.
Promoting voice and choice
With lots of different conditions to manage, a variety of professionals are involved in Toni’s care, and she has lots of appointments to navigate. She regularly visits Oncology for her tumours, has ongoing Gynaecology support, and regularly sees a Psychologist. Toni is very independent and manages her schedule with some support from her team.
Understanding Toni’s anxiety around health and medical procedures, they ensure she’s prepared for appointments beforehand. They talk through what she can expect, and a member of her support team attends appointments with her.
For Toni, her relationships with her wider support circle are important to her. With person-centred support, our team ensure she’s always in the driving seat of decision making with all her healthcare providers. This way, she feels empowered at her appointments and sees positive outcomes from them.
Healthy and happy
With her emotional wellbeing and physical health in tip-top shape, Toni’s enjoying a new lease of life!
Once withdrawn, she now jumps at the chance to get active. She has lots of options of group activities in the community and will try any activity once! She’s established a love for sequin art and will happily spend an afternoon getting creative! She also loves to bake and regularly makes delicious, sweet treats – cheesecake is her speciality!
Toni loves shopping and particularly likes buying home décor! She now does her own grocery shopping, rather than ordering it online. Before, she would experience anxiety about accessing the community to go shopping. With the support of her team and health changes, she’s now a regular at the shops!
With the support of her team, Toni’s navigated a journey to better health and increased happiness. As part of the Wasdale Road family, Toni knows her team are always there for her, supporting her to live a healthy, happy life.
Find out more!
Discover more about our life-changing behavioural support on Wasdale Court’s dedicated service page!