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Your Stories about Adult Social Care
Your Stories about Adult Social Care
Here you will find some real life stories about people's experiences of using our services.
If you have a story to tell about our services, please contact:
David’s story
“Community Care Services provided such good backup – without them life would have been a million times more difficult”
David is 65 and lives with his wife Nina. David was born with congenital cataracts and has had several eye operations. The last operation in January 2007 resulted in David losing his sight completely because of a haemorrhage.
“Its very traumatic becoming Blind suddenly-you need help to survive it and progress to lead a normal life. Kingston Community Care Services provided such good backup – without them life would have been a million times more difficult."
“Before becoming Blind, I had sight problems but I could drive, I enjoyed playing bridge and collecting stamps which is a very visual activity. I had to give all this up and my wife Nina suddenly became a ‘carer’."
Getting back to normal
“The mobility officer at the hospital where I had my operation got the ball rolling by registering me as Blind and referred me to Kingston Council’s Sensory Impairment Team. Being registered blind was the passport to getting social services support."
“A rehabilitation officer from the Sensory Impairment Team came to talk to me about what help I needed and the support available to help me – they call this an ‘assessment’. She told me about talking clocks and watches, and liquid level indicators which beep when your mug or saucepan is nearly full."
“Thanks to my rehab officer, I’ve also got a screen reader which literally reads out what is written on my computer screen. Now I’ve started a touch typing course and learnt to use my screen reader, I can send and receive emails and use the internet."
“I can’t drive now but my wife Nina has got a Blue Badge for our car. The Blue Badge is very useful and allows you to park in convenient places when you are out shopping or visiting friends."
“The social worker also organised some mobility training for me. We started in my home where I learnt how to feel my way round safely. It felt quite strange at first, I was disorientated, but the social worker was very helpful and encouraging."
“Then we started on long cane training at the Malden Centre inside the building. I then progressed to street lessons close to where I live. We then ventured out a bit more getting a bus into New Malden, walking up and down the High Street, using the crossings and so on."
“A month ago I started using the cane on my own. And last Saturday took I took the bus to get my hair cut and then walked back home. After 8 months of training I’m a lot more independent.”
Supporting carers to carry on caring
Nina supports David in his daily life and receives support herself to help her keep going:
“Nina gets a lot of support from Kingston Social Services and Kingston Carers’ Network, an independent organisation whose job it is to support people like Nina. Recently she received some massage therapy vouchers to help her feel relaxed and currently attends a first aid course for carers."
Living a full and active life
David is busy getting on with his life and looking forward to new experiences and opportunities:
“I’m a member of Kingston Association for the Blind which have a number of useful services such as their buddy scheme and tandem cycle riding."
“I’m thinking about getting a guide dog but for the moment I’m happy with my white cane."
“I’ve got a milestone digital recorder which I use as a diary and to store telephone numbers and my ‘to do’ list."
“I’m interested in music and reading and I get talking books from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and the local library. I enjoy going to the theatre too, especially if there is audio description available.”