The social worker felt that Dot had been deskilled as she and Alex had once lived in their own home in the community. Dot was also a long way from her family who lived in Ellesmere Port.
I went to meet Dot where she was living: a large Victorian semi on 3 floors with steep steps up to the front door. It looked pleasant enough, some shrubs and flowers around the small parking area in front.
I went to the door and rang the bell, I was expected and thought that Dot would probably answer it. She didn’t, the door was opened by a member of staff who invited me in saying, about the person standing next to her, “take no notice of her; she’ll start crying in a minute”. So she did. I asked the tearful person her name – she said “Carol” and I told her I had come to see Dot, could she take me to her? She did, with no more tears.
I looked around at the dirty carpet, the dark furniture, the high ceilings, the staff standing in the TV room together talking over the two people trying to watch Eastenders, the other people clamouring for my attention – and I thought I’d taken a step back in time.
Dot was waiting to show me her bedroom and make arrangements for her visit to Belgrave Drive. We went to her room on the next landing. It was a big room with a single bed – unmade. Clothes scattered around (Dot was almost as untidy as me!!!), a few personal items, surprisingly few for a person who’d lived there for over 10 years. Dot showed me her timetable – with a few activities which included “Happy time” (a reminiscence group). Dot told me she liked to go out for “a bottle of pop and a bar” (of chocolate) We made arrangements for Dot to come for tea – she wanted fish and chips – and Dot saw me to the door.
Dot’s visits to Belgrave Drive were very successful. At each visit she brought her clothing and other personal items for her room. Dot insisted that her things stay at Belgrave at each visit until she had virtually moved herself in!! Dot eventually had a visit in December, which proved to be her last as she didn’t return to her previous home after that, spending Christmas with us.
Dot’s life is very different now. She looks forward to attending the day centre 3 days a week, loves to help with the house shopping and is working towards doing her shopping for personal items without staff support. Dot loves children and has met staff family with their children; she loves Elvis Presley and has met ‘him’ several times at different venues. Dot loves clothes and has lots of new ones, she loves to go out for trips and visits as she always meets someone who remembers her or who she remembers. Dot has had some contact with her family, and importantly - Dot will tell you she loves living at Belgrave Drive.
Pauline Kujabi
Front Line Manager
Belgrave Drive