A New Partnership Brings Progress For Benson House Resident Rosemary

Offering the very best person-centered care is our focus at Caring Homes, and helping all our residents to live life to the fullest involves making sure each individual is as physically confident as they can be.

Integrating Physiotherapy with Care

The partnership between rehabilitation specialists, Therapies on Thames and Benson House Care Home in Wallingford is already demonstrating that integrating physiotherapy into the daily lives and care plans of our residents can be beneficial.

Therapies on Thames physiotherapist Helen visits Benson House every week and has quickly become recognised as a member of the home’s team. Helen gives every new arrival to the care home an initial physiotherapy assessment as part of the admissions process. This adds an extra element of insight which is invaluable when the clinical team puts together a unique care plan for each resident.

Therapist’s Versatility is an Asset

Benson House Home Manager, Cathy, is also able to use Helen’s time in a number of ways, including holding weekly group activities for residents covering subjects like improving balance, staff training on areas such as therapeutic handling, and evaluations or falls risk assessments for individuals. As part of this, Helen was recently asked to carry out a physiotherapy assessment with resident Rosemary who had been identified as being at potential risk of falls.

Helen’s assessments are holistic. They take into account each person’s past medical history, medications, any falls they may have had in recent months, eyesight, footwear, pain, continence, current mobility etc. Balance and coordination ability are also assessed during a range of tasks.

Rosemary’s Treatment Plan Achieves Positive Results

At the time of assessment, Rosemary was walking short distances in her room, slowly, using a 'gutter frame' - a walking aid for those who need extended support - and always supervised. “She’d previously had a fall and felt extremely anxious about falling again or injuring herself simply by walking”, Helen explained.

When Helen asked Rosemary about the goals she hoped to achieve through therapy, she said she’d like to be able to walk to her daughter’s car and be taken to her house for a few hours, which she used to do regularly in the past. Taking everything into account, Helen put together a treatment plan to help Rosemary achieve those goals.

In addition, Rosemary engaged Helen to deliver some privately funded therapy sessions at Benson House to support her with her plan. She proved to be an excellent student. “Rosemary engaged fully in the sessions and made excellent progress”, Helen reflected. “She was soon walking a significant distance three or four times per day from her room to the dining room and back confidently and independently. Rosemary has also progressed from using the gutter frame to using her previous 4-wheeled walker”.

Gaining Confidence and Freedom to Participate Again

Rosemary and her daughter are delighted with the results so far. “When I had a fall, I lost my confidence and even felt nervous walking around my room” said Rosemary. “The physiotherapy sessions with Helen have helped restore my confidence in my own ability. I’m even walking outside again in the gardens, which I used to do independently most days”.

Rosemary is keen to continue working on her balance and mobility, taking it as far as she can, and Helen sees this as a real positive. “Physiotherapy has given Rosemary confidence and freedom to participate in many aspects of life again, opening up new opportunities rather than seeing them closed down. We have an excellent rapport and I thoroughly enjoy our sessions."

Physiotherapy Expertise Benefits Residents and Staff

Therapies on Thames are also working with Caring Homes at Tarring Manor, Parris Lawn, Blenheim Court, Broadbridge Park, Whittington House, The Orchard and Cotman House.

Caring Homes Operations Director, Julie Mason said, “Our partnership with Therapies on Thames has the potential to help many more of our residents and also to benefit our teams with training and support. We’re happy that the same physiotherapist will visit their designated home each week, building a rapport with staff, gaining the trust of residents and their families and providing a service that links seamlessly with the person-centred care we give to each resident”.

Welcome to Benson House

Our purpose-built luxury care home, Benson House in Wallingford, provides residents with high-quality nursing, residential and dementia care on both permanent and short-stay basis. We ensure peace of mind with a 'home for life', covering any dementia or nursing support when needed. Our fully trained nurses and care team are chosen for their compassion and expertise.

Benson House is centred around our residents, their needs and their wishes. With various social lounges, a cinema room, bistro area and hairdressing salon, there’s plenty to keep residents engaged. Our landscaped gardens and wind-proof glazed balconies provide outdoor seating all year round.

For more details about the care we offer, visit our Nursing Care and Residential Care pages. Learn more about our specialised Dementia Care. Call us today to arrange a tour or for more information on freephone 0808 169 8656