Personal Assistance

A Therapy-Informed Approach to Enabling Independence

Where occupational therapy input is not required or has concluded, I also offer support in a Personal Assistant capacity if help is still needed. The focus here is on providing practical, enabling support that promotes continued independence and allows you to stay involved in the daily activities that bring you joy and purpose.

In this capacity, my support will be therapy-informed, focusing not just on getting things done, but on providing just the right level of assistance to ensure you can participate as fully as possible. This approach proactively delays the onset or progression of ill health, often reducing the need for more intensive care later on.

A Holistic, Flexible Framework 

Whether you require short-term assistance or ongoing support, we will look at your wellbeing holistically, giving careful thought to your physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health.

The following outlines some of the protective factors we can consider as part of an overall approach to enhancing quality of life. Please view these as a flexible framework – none of these elements are compulsory.

1. Engagement in Meaningful Activities: Ensuring your ongoing involvement in the activities that bring you enjoyment and purpose. This may involve help with tasks such as shopping and managing your household, or helping you engage in your favourite leisure and relaxation activities.

2. Mobility: Promoting safe, confident movement to support your overall health and independence. In addition to incorporating movement into your daily routines, I can assist you in carrying out a prescribed physiotherapy exercise programme, offering guidance and encouragement to help you comfortably stay on track.

3. Emotional Wellbeing and Social Connection: Offering genuine companionship or helping you to expand your local social network to prevent loneliness. I can support you through the emotional ups and downs of health changes or disability and help you maintain the positive interactions that buffer life’s stressors.

4. Nutrition and Hydration: Ensuring your brain and body have the fuel and fluids to function optimally. This may include hands-on help with balanced meal planning/preparation or support to implement specialist dietary advice.

5. Sleep: Prioritising quality sleep and rest to allow for repair and recovery. I can help you structure your day and implement practical changes and techniques that facilitate better sleep.

6. Cognitive Health: Keeping your mind active and engaged to support mental clarity at any stage of life.

For dementia specifically, I also offer the following recognised approaches to further support you or your loved one’s cognitive health and wellbeing:

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
Recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for mild-moderate dementia, CST involves enjoyable, themed activity sessions, which can be provided in a group or individually. With a focus on thought-provoking activities, improvements in cognition, independence, and quality of life have been shown.

While often provided in NHS memory clinics, these services cannot always accommodate demand or individual needs. Instead, I can deliver the individual CST programme in the home setting, which is particularly beneficial if attending a clinic is difficult or undesirable due to mobility, sensory, or mental health challenges. 

Furthermore, because research shows strong benefits in continuing this programme beyond the initial 14 sessions, I also offer Maintenance CST over a longer period.

Reminiscence Activities and Life History Work
Ideal for those experiencing cognitive changes or isolation, these approaches gently tap into preserved long-term memories to support cognitive function, emotional wellbeing and social connection:

• Preserving identity: Using familiar music, photos, or objects to share life stories boosts mood, improves communication, and reinforces a sense of self.

• Creating personalised cognitive aids: We can build tangible resources like life story books or memory boxes, giving family and carers a meaningful and positive way to connect and engage.

• Informing compassionate care: Capturing an individual’s history, values, and preferences provides a vital framework for future support. It equips carers with the knowledge they need to ease distress and offer truly person-centred support.
  
  

7. Proactive Health Management and Early Intervention: Supporting you to monitor your health needs and access appropriate professional guidance when needed. I can help spot subtle changes in your wellbeing early on, accompany you to appointments or assessments, and provide support to convey your needs and ensure you fully understand your care.

How it Works

Visit lengths are very flexible to accommodate your specific needs and the activities we are focusing on. We can arrange:

• Ongoing support: To sustain your abilities and protect your quality of life over time 

• Short-term, targeted support: To help rebuild your confidence and abilities following an illness or injury

• Supplementary support: Via phone or video calls as an additional option when of value, for example, while supporting the establishment of routines, confidence building, or motivational support.

Please note: because this service is designed to enhance your independence and wellbeing, I am unable to provide support with essential daily activities, such as washing and dressing, and must not be relied upon for core self-care.