Laura, a 58-year-old woman with a diagnosis of personality disorder, has spent much of her adult life in hospital settings, often far from home and family. Her journey with mental health services began in 1987, and Laura unfortunately during her inpatient admissions she experienced the loss of several loved ones, including her father, brother, sister, and mother.
Laura became a long-term inpatient at age 21. A brief community discharge in 1993 was unsuccessful due to risks posed to others, leading to readmission. A further discharge under a Community Treatment Order in 2015 also ended in recall due to self-harming behaviour and non-compliance with medication.
Over the years, Laura’s mental health was marked by persistent low mood, anxiety, poor coping strategies, low self-esteem, and auditory hallucinations. Environmental changes often triggered deterioration, leading to multiple moves between hospitals.
Recognising this, the team at Weaver Lodge – AFG’s mental health hospital in Cheshire – planned a gradual, personalised transition in 2021. This included staff visits to her previous placement, day trips and overnight stays, preparing her for full admission in September 2021.
Laura was back in her local area and able to see family weekly, which helped her to feel grounded and had a big impact on her wellbeing. She re-learned functional skills with staff support, managing her hygiene, cooking meals like bacon sandwiches, keeping her bedroom tidy, and making independent trips into town.
Together Laura and her team began to plan for discharge, with Laura involved in choosing her new bungalow, picking paint colours, and even interviewing staff. Laura requested that her bedroom be painted red in honour of Liverpool FC and that staff be fellow supporters. Once ready, a phased transition involving day and overnight leave prepared her for full discharge.
Laura now lives in her own bungalow with 24/7 one-to-one support, something she had not been able to do for decades. Her progress highlights how recovery can flourish when individuals receive consistent, well planned support close to their home and loved ones.