A family approach: How our Worcester team picked up Sandra when she fell ill
With just four people living at Woodbury View, Worcester, it’s not just a care home, it’s like a family. So when Sandra, 80, became ill, the team rallied round her to make sure she had the best possible care.
In January 2025, paramedics were called to Woodbury View when Sandra began having seizure-like symptoms.
With no previous diagnosis of epilepsy, the team were extremely concerned for Sandra, and she was taken to hospital for further treatment and investigations.
Nicola Driscoll, service manager, said: “Sandra has complex needs and is non-verbal, so the hospital was a very distressing place for her and she was scared. Sandra was supported every day with staff from Woodbury View, but we could see Sandra was going downhill there.”
Having been assessed by her medical team, Sandra was facing a lengthy period of rehab to get her back on her feet so she could go home to Woodbury View, but the manager and team had doubts about how Sandra was responding and how she might feel about more time in hospital.
Nicola said: “Having spoken to the professionals, we were confident that we would be able to provide the care and support she needed at home. We are her family at the end of the day, so we asked the hospital if we could try with her, and within hours she was able to stand.”
‘Really happy’
After more visits, the team were able to get Sandra walking and were successful in getting her discharged and back home to Woodbury View.
“You could see on her face that she was really happy and pleased to be home. Within an hour of being back home Sandra was weight bearing and started taking small steps where this continued to improve as the days went on. Since then we’ve had input from a community physiotherapist to support us in helping Sandra to get stronger each day.”
Nicola says the team at Woodbury View take a family approach to care, and that she believes it’s this that has made the difference to Sandra. She said: “We’re a small team, but that gives us the chance to really bond with the ladies that live here. It’s not a clinical atmosphere, and the team regard the people they support like family members.”
‘I never worry’
Sandra’s brother, Gerald, spoke to the team after Sandra had come home, telling them how grateful he was for their support. He said: “I wanted Sandra home sooner as I know that the staff at Woodbury View know her best and would look after her a lot better, the team at Woodbury View are just brilliant, I never worry about if Sandra is ok or if she is happy, as I know she has the best care that there is to offer.”
Nicola says that personal connections to the people they support is the most rewarding part of the job.
“We’re not just carers. I say it all the time but our team are all heroes. This isn’t an easy job, but they go above and beyond every single day. It’s more about what the ladies give to us. A little smile or a hug and we go home happy that we’ve made a difference. If we didn’t get a hug or smile, we’d know there was something wrong!”
About Lifeways:
Lifeways is the UK’s largest team of support professionals providing support for adults in the community.
We support adults with diverse and complex needs, including learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and mental health conditions.
Lifeways delivers support across three divisions: supported living, residential and mental health services.
As the supported living sector’s largest team of professionals, Lifeways’ extensive experience and national reach mean we deliver extraordinary support to adults, enabling them to live fulfilling and independent lives in the community.
Our 10,000 colleagues currently support around 4,000 individuals who live in our 1,500 supported living and residential services across England, Scotland, and Wales.
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