Calvert Reconnections delivering life-changing outcomes

Participants at Calvert Reconnections, the recently-opened Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) rehabilitation centre in the Lake District, are reporting life-changing outcomes.

Calvert Reconnections is a unique residential neuro-rehabilitation centre for people with post-acute ABI. The centre delivers cognitive and physical rehabilitation strategies alongside daily living and vocational skills within the local community.

As the centre approaches its first anniversary, clinicians have released their first evidence-based outcomes review.

To date, duration of participant stay has varied, some for just six weeks, and others for as long as 24 weeks. On average, the length of stay has been 13 weeks.

Analysis of participants’ outcomes to date, indicate:

• 100 per cent improved their ability to carry out everyday activities.
• 100 per cent needed less support when they were discharged and 60% have progressed onto independent living.
• 100 per cent reported an improved hope for the future and an improved sense of purpose and direction in their life.
• 90 per cent achieved their goals.
• 80 per cent felt more empowered through greater participation and control over decisions that affect their lives.

Claire Appleton, head of service at Calvert Reconnections, said: “Calvert Reconnections opened its doors for the first time in June 2021.

Claire Appleton

“It has been the most exciting time to see all our planning and preparation come together and start the journey of our new rehabilitation centre.

“The level of passion and excitement amongst our highly skilled and specialised team has been obvious from the outset.

“Within our first six months of being open, we have welcomed multiple participants through our doors who have experienced real life changes.

“These changes have been fantastically illustrated in the outcomes which we can now begin to share. The changes to participants’ lives have been a privilege to be part of, and the feedback from family and professionals involved has been inspirational.”

Brain injury silk Bill Braithwaite QC, Trustee at the Lake District Calvert Trust, said: “I’m so delighted about these outcomes, because they justify our faith in this adventurous brain injury rehabilitation programme.

“There is a huge demand for rehab which is more than the common, therapy-based system, which can be dull and dispiriting; over the years I’ve seen so many patients who have either refused to participate, or failed to engage continuously, because they don’t feel the motivation.

“Now that we’re well-established, and COVID is retreating, I hope that all those survivors out there, and their case managers and lawyers, will come and share with us the wonderful, invigorating, activity-based rehabilitation we offer.”

Over the coming weeks, Calvert Reconnections will be releasing further details from its outcomes review including goal measures, outcome measures (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Scale-4, FIM & FAM and Independent Recovery Outcome Counter), examples of profession-specific outcome measures, transition of skills, independent living and goals for change after discharge.

Following initial COVID-related restrictions, Calvert Reconnections is now operating at full capacity.

To make a referral or for further details, visit www.calvertreconnections.org.uk or email [email protected]