At MacIntyre we promise to get to know the people we support and learn what is important to them. For Emily, this was her appearance.
In her previous care facility, Emily was dressed the same way each day. She could become distressed by the bustling crowds, harsh store lighting and queues in shops so staff chose to avoid this situation, meaning they chose Emily’s clothes, often dressing her in baggy clothing that lacked vibrancy.
When MacIntyre was introduced to Emily, taking over her care, she was notably subdued and quiet. Working with Emily and her family, the staff at MacIntyre developed Emily’s Person Centred Plan, learning about her likes and dislikes. Getting to know Emily, they learned that her self-esteem was at an all-time low and, after a series of one to one interactions, she revealed that she didn’t like her current appearance. Whilst staff were aware that the high-street caused Emily distress, they were desperate to raise her self-esteem, so slowly they began to introduce her to these environments in a positive and reassuring way.
Ensuring people we support have choice is essential, so staff took the time to plan shopping trips that were suited to Emily’s needs. They knew that she preferred a quiet, calm environment, so planned to take her to high-street stores during quieter periods. The first few times Emily went shopping, she was unsure but staff remained patient, encouraging her every step of the way.
Once Emily began to become more comfortable, staff began to notice that the clothes she picked for herself were vastly different from the ones she had been wearing. Whilst her previous garments were a mixture of neutral and chromatic colours, Emily was now choosing fabric that was bright and fun, in a variety of patterns.
In addition to making choices about her appearance, she also learned new skills; gaining confidence in handling money and paying for items at the till. This confidence continued to grow, even resulting in an impromptu fashion show from Emily. Confident, happy and full of life she tried on each outfit for staff, proud of her choices.
To learn more about the MacIntyre Promises, please visit ‘Our Values’.
*Names have been changed
