Here are some genuine case studies from our Community Mentoring service. They show very clearly what a significant difference the service can make to ordinary people whose needs could not be properly addressed by a medical treatment.
Some of the Case Studies are funded by the Link Age Plus Project and some are funded by the My Life, My Choice Project but they all show the real benefits that the Community Mentoring Service offers.
Case Study – Peggy
Case Study – Bridget
Case Study – Fred
Case Study - James
Case Study - Philomena
Case Study - Peter
Case Study - Josephine
Case Study - Mary
Case Study - James (not his real name) is married and in his mid fifties. He used to be very sporty, and has two very sporty teenage sons. As a result of a neurological condition, he has been housebound and wheelchair bound for two years. He is completely dependent on his wife and was very depressed.
At the first visit the mentor reported that the whole family was tense and angry. With the mentor's support James joined a weekly games group; now he helps to run it. He had always been good at motivating people in his working life, and has started to use this skill in the games group. He has begun to go around again independently, using public transport.
Now James volunteers one day a week in a residential home where he runs activity sessions. These have been so popular he is going to start in a second residential home.
Case Study - Philomena (not her real name) is in her early 70's, is quite isolated, does not go out. She is partially sighted, diabetic, lonely and anxious about leaving the house. She was widowed 40 years ago, and her only child lives some distance away and visits rarely.
With considerable support and with reluctance she agreed to join a circle dancing group which the mentor hoped would help her gain confidence. Her neighbour agreed to drive her to these sessions. After a few sessions she said, "You know how much it means to me".
When her neighbour was not able to drive her, with encouragement from her mentor she organised the `Ring and Ride' herself. "He brought this huge bus for me, just me, and afterwards he came right up to the room to collect me. I was quite brave really. I needed it because I shouldn't have been able to see in the dark evening."
Case Study - Peter (not his real name) is in his late fifties and was referred to the mentoring service because his acute anxiety meant he called the ambulance several times each month asking for emergency admission to hospital. His problems stem from years of being an alcoholic and although he no longer drinks he has long term effects.
When referred, Peter's ambitions were to go back to work and to move from his flat to a house. While accepting support from the mentor to join a group specially designed to support people in managing their anxiety so that they can move on to more pleasurable experiences, he gradually he accepted, both that he did not need the kind of medical help he thought he did, and that he needed a simpler ambition.
His call out rate for the local ambulance service has dropped significantly, and he is finding life less threatening.
Case Study - Josephine (not her real name) is single and in her 60's. She was referred to the mentor service as she was unable to maintain appointments with psychological services due to anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. The mentor helped her to regain confidence. Gradually she built up the motivation to restart an old hobby she had loved when younger.
She has now joined a specially designed women's group and recently went to a car boot sale to look for equipment for her hobby. Her future goals: to walk the dog, use buses, and to improve her self esteem with dress and make up.
Case Study - Mary (not her real name) lost her husband and had been in hospital after two falls. She lacked confidence and was depressed. She was resigned to going into a residential home and to steady decline thereafter.
Referred to the Community Mentoring service by her primary care team, Mary was visited by a mentor and was gently encouraged to try out a small specially designed activity group in her village.
The mentor arranged transport initially and introduced her to the group. At first, she was reluctant to talk much but, encouraged by the others, who had all joined the group in a similar way, she took a tentative interest in recording memories on tape, using sketchbooks and doing gentle Tai Chi.
To her surprise, she started to make friends and found she had an aptitude for painting. The group dynamics gradually took over from the need for a mentor as people began to enthuse each other, share their skills and exchange ideas about things they wanted to learn and to do.
They maintained contact with each other outside the regular activity group. Mary's self confidence increased and she began to discuss how to stay in her own home.
The group now organises its own activities and Mary is helping to promote an exhibition of all their art in their local surgery.
In summary Mary reports:
- Being confident about living in her own home
- Having fewer visits to her GP
- Having improved balance and mobility
- Taking greater interest in life including better diet
- Increasing her social contacts, with her family as well as the village
- Playing a role in the local village life
(not her real name) is 94 years old. She was discharged from reablement after spending seven months in hospital. She is anxious, has poor stability and stamina and is partially sighted. Peggy had cancelled any care that had been arranged for her. She has since completed 12 weeks of sessions with an enabler to help her to increase her confidence and stamina. She has also taken part in longer sessions to enable her to go to the bank, supermarket and her favourite café for lunch independently. She now visits the café twice a week and does her own shopping at the local supermarket.
(not her real name) is 84 years old. She has increasing memory problems together with some concerns about paranoia. She had refused any help but supported by her friend who had also had serious mental health problems herself she agreed to join community run lunch club. Since she joined she has settled in well with the help of an enabler.
(not his real name) is 66 years old. Fred has had long term mental health problems including depression and thoughts of suicide. Fred, who visits his local Age Concern each day now attends two community mentoring groups and is being encouraged to join the singing group. During his time at the groups the enablers are able to help him with his depression and negative thinking. He is also being given weekly advice and support to help him decide on his housing options or to help him improve how he lives in his current housing.
