This December, we’re starting the tradition of Abri’s Twelve Stories of Christmas. Over the festive season we’re going to be sharing twelve stories that we hope will make your heart feel warm this Christmas.
Today we’re sharing the story of how our Tenancy Sustainment and Commercial Works teams are working together to give much needed support to a vulnerable customer.
Samantha Johnson, Tenancy Support Coordinator within Independent Living, has been supporting a vulnerable customer since the very first lockdown.
Adam* was extremely anxious and lonely and hasn’t left his home since July. His sister lives in another one of our properties and has a learning disability, so she and Adam support one another.
Sam has made a referral to our financial team as Adam has faced some money troubles this year. He also has physical health issues, as well as heart failure, so is awaiting surgery on his heart and lungs. Due to Sam’s concerns over his health, she referred him for additional support from a Health Coach and has been liaising with an Occupational Therapist over Adam’s temporary move to his sister’s home.
The reason for the move is so our Commercial Works team, led by Ben Cochrane, can complete more than £28,000 of work to his home to make it safer for him to live in. The work at his home, funded by South Somerset District Council through a Disabled Facilities Grant, will make his doorways wider so emergency services could assist him in the event of a fire.
The work is due to start in January and will also involve the Commercial Works team installing a new wet room and a new front door at his home, too.
Sam continues to call Adam once a week to make sure he’s well, and to help arrange his hospital transport so he can see his specialists.
Adam’s sister is going on holiday over the Christmas period, and because of his poor health he can’t go with her this year. He doesn’t have his own cooker in his property, and because of his mobility he’s not able to prepare his own meals. Sam has worked with the local church to deliver him a Christmas meal on Christmas Day.
With our support, working in partnership with Adam’s local GP services and Health Coach, we hope our team will be able to help him prepare for his temporary move to his sister’s home to allow the specialist work to be carried out to make his home more suitable for his needs.
*name has been changed