Nursing Case Study - Charlotte's Story
When Charlotte first arrived at Garth House she was very poorly indeed. At hospital she had been diagnosed with cardiac and renal failure, along with a number of other serious conditions. Charlotte needed support from two nurses for all her care needs and had lost a great deal of weight. The local health trust’s continuing care team had assessed Charlotte’s needs as ‘end of life’ care with ‘no possibility’ of rehabilitation. Charlotte was bedbound and suffering from pressure sores that required her to be turned in bed regularly. This exceptionally difficult situation had left Charlotte feeling very low: she had no interest in daily life at the home or in her personal appearance.
Despite these challenges, Charlotte’s family and the dedicated nursing team at Garth House knew that she could still enjoy a good quality of life with the right care and support. The first priority was to address Charlotte’s physical needs and, with careful treatment, her sores soon healed completely. Once this step had been taken Charlotte started working with the staff team and physiotherapist to increase her mobility. Within a few months she could bear her own weight and walk around. Charlotte is now able to visit the bathroom independently and enjoys weekly visits to the hairdresser.
In just a few short months Charlotte’s health and outlook have transformed. She has begun to put weight back on and now takes an active interest in everyday life at Garth House; from what she is going to wear in the morning, to what activities are planned in the home throughout the day. Charlotte looks forward to visits from family and friends and they in turn are delighted with the complete change in her confidence and wellbeing.
Charlotte’s story is just one example of the dedicated care and support the team at Garth House provides every day. If you would like to learn more about the variety of care provision available at Garth House, please call our Home Manager on 0808 223 5507.