Our impact within
Southampton
We are lucky to meet so many amazing people from Southampton every day and love learning more about people’s lives and interests.
Our Southampton Living Well hubs (transformed from the previous adult day care centres) offer the opportunity to get to know people from the local community and make new friends.
We are proud to help people enjoy life to the fullest and see the direct impact our support is making to their lives. Whether it’s helping someone become more mobile, or giving a much loved family member a place to go so their loved ones can have a break, it all makes a difference.
Have a quick look at some stories below to see how we have made a difference:
VISIT A HUB NEAR YOUMIKE
Just six weeks after Mike retired he had a stroke, this left him hospitalised for 6 weeks. He was told that he would never walk again.
“I was devastated, the stroke affected my left side and I was struggling not only physically but mentally.” Said Mike. Mike’s wife, Sylvia became his carer.
After his stroke Mike started attending Southampton Living Well Padwell. At Southampton Living Well Padwell Mike is supported both physically and mentally and is now walking again. He enjoys taking part in the activities. Mike said “I enjoy coming and meeting my friends and I now support the other members that attend SLW Padwell, that feel like I once felt. My wife, Sylvia now has a little more of the Mike back that she thought she had lost forever. I will be forever grateful to all the team at SLW Padwell.”
Don’t worry if you think it might be difficult for you to do these activities. We can come and visit you to discuss how we can help. We have staff trained in care and support work who can accompany you should you need it.
GET IN TOUCH TODAYILLENE
Before lockdown, Illene came to Southampton Living Well Oak Lodge once a week. When Martyn, Oak Lodge’s Community Facilitator, first went to meet Illene was very shy and she told him that she missed socialising, meeting new people and had lost her confidence to go outside on her own. Her goal was to be able to go to her local supermarket to see her friends by herself. Martyn arranged for a member of staff to assist Illene to and from our hub to help build up her confidence of going outside.
Four months after Illene had started coming to Southampton Living Well Oak Lodge, she told Martyn that she had gone to her local supermarket by herself and that she felt so much better within herself. Martyn explained “you could tell by her face and the way she was acting that this really had made a difference for her by boosting her confidence.”
ERIC & RUTH
It wasn’t until Eric’s wife passed away that his daughter Ruth realised that her mum had been informally caring for her dad, reminding him of appointments and daily tasks as much as he had been looking after her. As time passed Ruth found herself spending more and more of her time supporting her dad which eventually led to Ruth having a breakdown. She was the sole provider of care for her dad, with no time for herself between shift work and caring duties. Eventually they found out about the Southampton Living Well hub at Oak Lodge. Eric now attends three days a week and this has been life changing for both Ruth and Eric
Ruth said
“Dad now has his life back, he has a purpose to get up each day. For me, I also have my life back – knowing Dad is looked after at Oak Lodge means I don’t have to worry as much. The staff make the place work, they care about each person and their family”
With regular respite from her caring duties, Ruth now has recovered from her breakdown. Eric has made new friends, and enjoys the regular day trips.