Coping With Change

Ironside1990
Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering
in Mental health and wellbeing

Hello.

I have recently moved into a new care home, after living at my last one for a year and a half.

I have been living here for only a week and I have found it hard to adjust.

I suffer from depression and anxiety and recently I have been feeling like I want to go home. (The previous care home.)

I will be moving into a supported living flat and the way the home operates, is that the residents are encouraged to do things for themselves,like washing own laundry and putting it away yourself.

I have been feeling depressed, so I rang the previous home to speak to a member of staff and they asked me how I was getting on. They are very kind people and they have said if I ever need to talk, i can always give them a ring, which is nice. It has cheered me up,as it was nice to hear a familiar voice.

My social worker is very kind too and she has put me on a 6 week probation. If after 6 weeks I decide that I don't want to live here, I can go back to the previous care home.

it has been on the cards for a while, but I am finding it hard. How does everyone here cope with change in their lives?

Comments

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,200 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    That sounds really difficult @Ironside1990. Change can be tough to adjust to sometimes, but it sounds like you've got some supportive people to call on to help make it feel a little easier. And it's good that you will still have the option open to go back to your previous home if things don't work out.

    Is there anything about the last place that made you feel more at home than your new place?

    I moved around quite a lot when I was younger and the thing that made me feel more settled in a new place was to surround myself with all my familiar things. I'd try to make wherever I was living as "me" as possible by putting up pictures and having all my personal items close by. Do you think that's something you could do, or could anyone help you to make your new space more personal?

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering

    I moved to my last care home after my mam died. She struggled with alcohol and her boyfriend has problems with drugs.

    I think I felt like I was safe at my last home. I've got my xbox and things to make it feel like home.

    I think of the the staff as extended family and I miss them.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,200 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Sorry to hear about your mum @Ironside1990, that must have been difficult for you to cope with.

    Have you met many of the staff from your new place? It might just take a few weeks to settle in and get to know everyone before you start feeling more comfortable. I hope they're making you feel welcome so far.

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering

    I'm making plans to leave and go back to my last home.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,200 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'm sure they'll all welcome you back @Ironside1990 😊 hopefully it won't be too long before you're feeling safe and settled again.

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 621 Empowering

    All the very best @Ironside1990. As Rosie says, soon it'll be as though you never left and you'll feel more relaxed again.

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering

    My social worker is on holiday, so I can't speak to her until next week. I rang my old home this morning and they've said my old room is still available.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,200 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    That sounds positive @Ironside1990, it'll be nice if you can just slot back into your old room. Do you need to wait for your social worker to get back to start the process or is there someone else you might be able to contact to get things moving?

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 621 Empowering

    Hope I didn't put my foot in it, got the impressed it was a done deal you were going back.

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/880710#Comment_880710

    Social Services organise my accommodation at both homes. I would have to wait until she gets back so I can get the ball rolling.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,200 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    @Ironside1990 Hope the wait goes quickly and you can get it all sorted once she's back. Keep us updated with how you get on 😊

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 292 Empowering

    I think I will stick the 6 weeks out and see what happens at the new home where I am at now.

    My social worker came out and we had a sit down with the manager. I told her I was missing the staff at my previous home, but I am in contact with them. I also said I was worried about being in a mental health unit. It WAS a mental health unit, but not anymore. There is people with disabilities there, but they generally keep to themselves.

    as mentioned in my OP, I am going to be living in supported flat. You do basic life skills at the home where I am at. So that will help in future.

    My social worker will review my stay in a few weeks time.

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