Case Study: How outcomes focused home care helped Henry to start living again
At BelleVie, we’re revolutionising the care sector by focusing on strong communities, meaningful relationships, and technology-driven efficiency. Moving away from the traditional “time-and-task” model, we provide an environment where both care recipients and workers thrive. We don’t just talk about change; we put it into action with real people. This case study highlights our person-focused approach through the story of Henry, an 86-year-old who, with our personalised and consistent care, was able to live life to the fullest and enjoy the life he wanted.
Henry, aged 86, was admitted to hospital following a fall at home. The ambulance crew who found him raised a concern that his property was unkempt and he had not been looking after himself. His niece confirmed that he’d refused all intervention and support, leaving her deeply concerned about his ability to live independently.
A hospital social worker referred Henry to BelleVie when he was ready to be discharged, stating that he was doubly incontinent and struggling to attend to his own personal care needs. Initially, Henry would not discuss his incontinence with BelleVie. Our Wellbeing Support Team worked with him at his pace. Henry had lived with his brother until his brother died of COVID-related complications in hospital during the pandemic. The team soon realised that Henry was still broken by his brother’s death. They built a trusted relationship with Henry, recognising that his mental health was the root cause of physical issues. Through consistent, compassionate care, they were not only able to assist Henry with his personal care needs but also worked with him to ensure his home environment was safe and supportive.
Our teams support people by understanding what outcomes are important to them as individuals and designing care plans around those outcomes. When Henry said he’d like to go to the local town’s jazz festival, the team made it happen. Henry was fully engaged in planning how to manage his incontinence, from choosing the best products to planning how to handle any accidents. Henry and his care worker thoroughly enjoyed the jazz festival.
Henry was in a position where he could fund his own care. When he started to feel more positive about life, he requested more visits. The cost of personalised home care keeps people like Henry living safely and comfortably in their own homes for longer, avoiding expensive residential care and unnecessary hospital stays. It also creates purpose-filled jobs, retaining good people in caring roles and creating thriving communities.
