Sean, who would sit for more than 100 hours receives ‘life-changing’ support from Brunelcare
Brunelcare’s South Gloucestershire Reablement Team is celebrating the remarkable progress of Sean, whose life has been transformed through dedicated their support, innovative approaches, and unwavering teamwork.
Sean, 63, who lives in Downend, previously spent more than 100 hours at a time sitting in front of the television, using litter pickers to reach snacks and drinks so he wouldn’t need to move from his chair. Today, Sean gets up regularly, showers daily, enjoys one or two hot meals a day, stays hydrated, and can even walk to the local shops when he chooses.
When the team first began supporting him a little over 14 weeks ago, Sean was reluctant to leave his home and struggled with day-to-day tasks. For over 14 weeks he was unable to engage in meaningful activities, often feeling low and withdrawn.
At first, he didn’t even want to open the door to the Brunelcare Reablement Team, but with time, trust, and compassionate persistence, he developed a strong bond with Gemma and now looks forward to her three daily visits. With Gemma’s consistent encouragement and two and a half years of frontline experience, Sean’s life began to change dramatically.
Sean’s daily routine now includes personalised morning support, regular walking, and meaningful social interaction. His 30–45-minute visits, three times a day, includes preparing hot meals, walking around the home’s grounds to build confident and showering daily, which have all greatly enhanced his wellbeing.
Clare Harmer, Brunelcare’s South Gloucestershire Operations Manager, said: “Over the past year, Sean hasn’t just settled, he’s really started enjoying life again! At first, we were only visiting once a day in the evenings, but it quickly became clear he needed a bit more support. As soon as we increased the number of visits and added regular check-in calls, we started to see real change.
“One of the biggest turning points was when we introduced a specialised chair that helped him rest safely and comfortably. From there, we were able to build a gentle, structured routine with morning, lunchtime, and evening visits, personal care, showering, and regular meals. With lots of encouragement and patience, Sean went from staying in the same spot for hours to walking around, stepping out into the corridor, and slowly getting back into the rhythm of everyday life.”
Reflecting on his journey, Sean said: “The team at Brunelcare have truly changed my life. They helped me get a special chair and even encouraged me to try spending nights in bed again. It wasn’t easy at first, I preferred my chair, but they kept supporting me because they knew how important sleep was.
“I used to spend well over 100 hours in my old chair watching TV and didn’t move a muscle and I would snack on junk food but now I’m eating better, drinking more, and moving more. I wasn’t able to do anything before. Now I can, and I’m so excited for my visits every day with Gemma. She’s a star and we have formed such a great relationship. I don’t know how I would have coped without the team.”
Sean’s story is an example of how Brunelcare’s commitment to the people we support extends far beyond routine care.
The team continues to adapt to Sean’s changing needs, supports him during holiday periods, and helps him maintain strong links with the community. Shopping trips, daily activities, and regular social interaction have played a vital part in his ongoing transformation.
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