 Lifeways has been supporting Christopher since 2001 at his home in North London. Before then, he found it very difficult to relate to others as he suffers from bi-polar disorder, complicated by diabetes which had an impact on his mood swings. He was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions and he found that day to day tasks could be a real challenge.
Since Lifeways began supporting Christopher round-the-clock in a flat that he helped to select and for which he now holds the tenancy, he has made huge progress, thanks to his own determination and courage and a carefully devised, multi-faceted support package.
With new-found confidence, Christopher takes an active interest in his own personal care and wellbeing. He is able to keep his medical appointments and take the medication prescribed by his doctor. He is also more aware of the risks and complications of his diabetes, including the warning signs of hypoglycemia and gets the encouragement he needs to eat a healthier diet and avoid alcohol in order to keep his diabetes stable.
With Lifeways’ support, he now has a more planned programme each day – which nevertheless gives him plenty of opportunities to enjoy the games and sports he loves. According to Olympia Kapoula, a member of the Lifeways team in North London: "Christopher’s behavioural, mental health and medical needs have all really benefited from his commitment to following his care plan and accepting the support from staff which help him maintain that commitment.
Christopher manages to save money from his benefits to buy things he really wants. His domestic skills, his diet, social and interpersonal awareness and his anger management have all improved significantly. It is a great pleasure to see his confidence grow to the point where he is able to go out unescorted to visit friends and take part in community activities."
When asked what he thought about the support he receives, Christopher concluded: "I would like Lifeways staff to continue caring for me because they help me a lot with my problems. The best thing is that they treat me with respect." |
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