Forest Hill Case Study: Susan

Susan has been at Forest Hill for just over 2 years and suffered with social anxiety and low mood.  She barely left her room in the first few months of living here.  The staff worked hard to build a therapeutic, trusting relationship with Susan, aiming to help her to live a fulfilling life.  Susan aspired to be the person she once was: to be a participant in life, rather than a bystander.

Susan told staff that she really enjoyed flowers and gardens.  Speaking with her further Susan told us that her one wish would be to visit the Chelsea Flower Show in London.  Earlier this year two staff volunteered to take Susan to the Chelsea Flower Show.  They arranged train tickets, and a hotel overnight in order to make the time in London extra special – they even booked a table at a famous hotel for afternoon tea.

This time away had a hugely positive impact on Susan; before the trip she struggled with her social anxiety.  Whilst she still finds some situations difficult, Susan says that going to London really helped her.  She finds a great deal of reassurance in knowing that can manage a trip to the capital city – on that basis she feels she can manage almost anything!  

Susan has some lovely ideas about where she’d like to go next – it seems that the flower show has whetted her appetite for enjoying life and taking a creative approach to doing so once again.

Here at Forest Hill, we work creatively with the people that live with us to provide activities tailored to their individual needs.  We regularly have trips to the local bowling alley, shops and restaurants.  The people that live with us and their relatives are actively involved in planning activities that meet their needs.