From Hospital Bed to New York: A Two-Year Journey Back to Independence
Vivian's inspiring recovery. A real-life story of how tailored live-in care can help restore independence, confidence, and hope.
When Vivian was rushed to hospital with pancreatitis just over two years ago, when she was 82, doctors weren’t exactly optimistic. But Vivian did more than ‘just survive’ – after three months in hospital followed by a month in residential care, she embarked on a remarkable two-year journey with live-in care that would see her transform from being completely bed bound to flying solo to New York to visit her sister.
Finding Support: The First Days of Live-in Care
Vivian returned home in June 2023 facing the reality that she couldn’t walk at all. At that time, she was left completely dependent, sleeping downstairs because stairs were impossible, requiring assistance with every aspect of daily life.
This is when Moira, her first live-in care professional from Home Instead, stepped into her life. For five crucial months from June to October 2023, Moira provided round-the-clock care while Vivian was essentially bed bound, handling everything from personal care to meals and medication management.
The First Steps: Building Strength and Confidence
“She was a lovely person, really lovely,” Vivian recalls of those early days with Moira. The bond they formed was special and marked by some very crucial milestone. Working alongside physiotherapists who visited three times a week, Moira supported Vivian as she took her very first steps after months of being unable to walk. It was a turning point that marked the beginning of a gradual but steady journey toward independence.
When Moira left in October 2023, she was followed by Jackie, who brought something new to Vivian’s recovery – a car. This opened up possibilities unthought of in the months prior.
“Jackie was great and because she had a car, we were able to go out a little bit,” Vivian explains. These were little outings – appointments at the dentist, occasional shopping trips in the local area, and sometimes lunch out – but for someone who had been housebound for so long, they represented enormous progress.
Finding Connection: The Power of Shared Language and Culture
Vivian’s next care professional, Melinda, brought an unexpected gift – the ability to communicate in Portuguese. Having been born in Brazil and spending there a significant part of her childhood, Vivian found joy in speaking the language again after such a difficult period.
“One of the lovely things about Melinda was that she was from Portugal – well, she came from South Africa, but her parents were Portuguese, and I speak Portuguese, so we got on pretty well,” Vivian shares. Sometimes, the most meaningful aspects of home care come from these unexpected connections that go beyond basic assistance to touch on identity and personal history.
Preparing for Independence
Leslie became Vivian’s live-in care professional for the longest stretch of her journey, staying until the end of May this year. During Leslie’s time, several crucial milestones were achieved that marked Vivian’s return to independence.
One of the most significant was moving back upstairs to her bedroom. This move was partly
motivated by a rescue cat Vivian had adopted – he was very anxious and kept on hiding upstairs. As soon as Vivian could manage the stairs and sat on her bed, the cat would come and lie on her lap, creating a bond that encouraged more time upstairs and ultimately the permanent move back to her own bedroom.
Remarkable Milestones: From Dependency to Adventure
The true measure of Vivian’s transformation became clear earlier this year, in April, when she made the bold decision to fly alone to New York for three weeks to visit her sister. “It was very, very lovely,” Vivian says of her New York trip. “It was very nice to see my sister.” The journey represented not just physical recovery, but the restoration of confidence and independence that had seemed impossible during those early bed bound months.
Vivian also returned to driving! Before doing so, she took refresher lessons with a driving instructor and when they confirmed she was ready to drive again, it marked another significant step toward full independence.
The End of an Era: Transitioning Back to Independent Living
By the end of May, Vivian felt ready to live independently again. The transition was made easier by the fact that one of her sons from Singapore was visiting and could provide support during those first days without live-in care. At the moment, Vivian has two 2-hour visits a week from us. Looking back on the two-year journey, Vivian reflects on how essential the continuity of care was to her recovery. “I had no idea I would have carers for so long, for such a long time,” she admits. “But I couldn’t have managed without them.”
Today, Vivian drives herself to appointments and social gatherings, travels to the Isle of Wight to see friends, does her own shopping (preferring to see what she’s buying rather than ordering online), she has essentially got her life back. She still gets tired more easily than before her illness, but describes herself as “almost back to normal.”
Lessons in Recovery: The Value of Person-Centred Care
Vivian’s journey from complete dependency to international travel demonstrates the profound impact that well-matched, consistent live-in care can have on recovery outcomes. Each care professional brought something different to her journey – Moira’s gentle support during the most vulnerable time, Jackie’s mobility assistance, Melinda’s cultural connection, and Leslie’s long-term companionship through the final stages of recovery. This is the essence of person-centred home care.
The success of Vivian’s two-year care journey wasn’t just about physical recovery – it was about maintaining dignity, building confidence, and preserving the connections that make life meaningful. Her story offers hope to families facing similar challenges, showing that with the right support, even the most daunting health setbacks can lead to remarkable recoveries.
To learn how Home Instead can support your family’s care journey, call us on 01252 758 716. We are proud to provide home care services across Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet, and surrounding areas.