Karen moved into Exemplar Health Care’s Tyne Grange care home in 2020 following several failed placements in other care services.
With 1:1 support from our care team, and input from the therapy team at Tyne Grange, Karen has been supported to take her first steps since she was paralysed, and is now able to live a fulfilling life in an environment where she’s happy
Karen had a spinal cord injury around eight years ago which resulted in quadriplegia. She has complex needs in terms of her physical condition, and she has a personality disorder and displays behaviours of concern with regular self-harm and emotional dysregulation.
Karen has had many previous placements that have broken down, mainly due to the complex behaviours of concern that she displays.
With high staffing levels and specialist nursing care at Tyne Grange, which enable Karen to have 1:1 support, she now enjoys a good quality life.
Physiotherapy
At Tyne Grange, Karen has a session with the home’s in-house physiotherapist twice per week.
These sessions have improved her upper body and hand dexterity, strength and range of movement in her legs and her transfer and mobility practice.
Karen’s movement has improved significantly since coming to Tyne Grange. She has progressed from requiring a full hoist to using a stand aid, and now she’s able to walk using a walking frame. She’s achieved 54 metres of independent walking with a walking frame.
We’ve set a goal for her to be able to walk across the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead independently. We’re hoping to make this a big fundraising event.
Occupational therapy
Karen has regular sessions with the home’s in-house occupational therapist.
These sessions focus on improving her independent living skills and social integration.
In them, Karen works on preparing food and baking, increasing independence with personal care, accessing the community, building self-esteem and managing her emotions through sensory/self-soothing work.
Karen really enjoys her time spent accessing the community. Her current goal is to find a local class to start a new hobby and meet other people.
Behavioural support
Karen has a personality disorder and displays behaviours of concern including regular self-harm and emotional dysregulation.
Our high staffing levels have enabled Karen to progress at her own pace and build trust with the care team. This has reduced the number of instances of behaviours of concern.
Karen’s built a great rapport with the staff at Tyne Grange who have got to know her well and have learned how to manage her emotional needs.
Karen’s self-harming behaviours have dramatically decreased since coming to Tyne Grange.
Her happiness in living here is a huge credit to the staff who have built a great relationship with her. This allows Karen to feel safe and able to continue with her hobbies and do things she loves to do.
Since moving to Tyne Grange, Karen has explored a variety of activities and interests. She loves doing arts and crafts, going shopping, making friends and is the home’s Service User Ambassador.
Hear from Karen
“I had a spinal injury around eight years ago and have lived in numerous other care homes, but I didn’t really settle in any of them. I love living here and it’s the first place that feels like home,” she says.
“When I first met Sam, the Manager at Tyne Grange, she told me about the facilities in the home and that I’d be encouraged to be independent. And she wasn’t wrong!
“The staff at Tyne Grange support me with my hobbies.
“I love collecting teddy bears and dolls. We take regular trips to the local charity shop in search of them, and one of the ladies who works in the charity shop down the road has started collecting them for me.
“I’m also the queen of arts and crafts in the home, and I’ve got my own section of the garden that I keep on top of.
“I’m Tyne Grange’s Service User Ambassador. As an ambassador, I go on monthly Zoom calls with ambassadors from other Exemplar Health Care homes and we make decisions about the way the company is run. This year, we’ve organised lots of fun competitions such as a pumpkin growing competition and a quiz.
“I enjoy being an ambassador because it gives me things to do and I feel like I make a difference.
“One of my favourite things about living at Tyne Grange is that I choose what I want to do. The staff support me if I want to go out, which can be daily if I want. And they help me to decorate my bedroom.
“Since moving here, I do regular sessions with the physiotherapist, Helen, and I’ve recently taken my first steps since my accident.
“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!”
