All under one roof

Our Ageing Well clinics offer people over the age of 65 a range of healthcare advice in one place. We met one family who have experienced the difference of this new approach.

Hilary and Kelvin Reynolds.

Hilary Reynolds, 78 a former psychoanalytic psychotherapist, had never expected to feel so lost after surviving cancer.

Hilary and husband Kelvin, 83, a former geophysicist, have two children and two grandchildren, who love gathering at their house on the border of Kent and Surrey. But since her recovery, Hilary felt increasingly stressed at occasions that would once have filled her with joy.

“I was a miracle survivor of breast cancer and lung cancer, after a course of immunotherapy took my prognosis from a year to live, to, in remission,” explained Hilary. “But with that came an expectation that I should feel elated all the time. I felt guilt for not feeling that way.”

“What took me by surprise was the emptiness I felt. I had looked death square in the eyes, but when the fear faded, so gradually did my support network of oncologists, hospice carers, Macmillan nurses and counsellors.

“The treatment had ravaged my body and forced me to stop working. Surgery meant I lost the use of my left hand. Kelvin has also recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer which thankfully isn’t too serious but it was still a worry. I felt isolated.

“But a lot of that lifted, thanks to the care we received at the Ageing Well clinic at Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre.”

During a check-up with the GP, Hilary and Kelvin spotted a flyer for Ageing Well, a proactive clinic for the over-65s focused on health, mobility and independence.

Ageing Well is a new approach which brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and health and social care coordinators, who work together to address a range of health concerns, in one place.

By focusing on preventative care and early intervention, the programme aims to help people regain confidence, maintain independence and improve their overall quality of life. Hilary and Kelvin quickly signed up.

Hilary reflected: “From the word go, it felt so refreshing. Someone even went through the initial questionnaire forms with us, step-by-step. They were so detailed, making it a very personal service.

“When I sat down in the medical centre, I saw four specialists – a complex care nurse, physiotherapist, therapy assistant and social value coordinator.

“What a great model of treatment, I thought, straight away ­­to have everyone you need in one place. They took blood tests, health checks, everything we could possibly need.

“They were genuinely keen to hear how I felt. The biggest issues I had were to do with my hand, which stopped me getting into bed easily and left me in a lot of pain. I struggled with simple daily tasks.”

Hilary was first seen by Senior Physiotherapist Godfrey Asekhame who talked her through some simple exercises. Christina Martin, a therapy assistant, visited her home on several appointments afterwards, to guide her through the exercises and offer support.

Christina said: “The goal was to give Hilary back as much function as possible. We gave her exercises to complete to improve the strength and mobility in her arm. As Hilary had felt isolated she was also signposted to local exercises groups outside of the home, to encourage her to meet other people at the same time.”

Hilary was then booked into the Lymphoedema Clinic at Sevenoaks Hospital and was seen quickly. She said: “On another home visit – one of four – a handrail was fitted to the wall so I could finally manage the stairs properly. Oh, the difference it made! Before, I had to shuffle up, dragging myself step by step, which was exhausting and frustrating.

“The first time I took those stairs upright, holding the rail for support, I felt a wave of relief. I wasn’t trapped downstairs anymore. It sounds like such a small thing, but it gave me back a sense of freedom in my own home.”

Kelvin was quickly referred for his snoring and sleep apnoea and placed on a waiting list for a memory clinic. He was also offered a referral to our Edenbridge day centre for social activities. “The attention to detail was what really struck me,” he said. “We were in there for about an hour and even the smallest concerns were taken seriously. They just seemed to have the time for us.

“They even helped me with a continence issue I’d been putting off – no embarrassment, no fuss, just practical support.”

Both Hilary and Kelvin agreed they have a new ‘zest for life’ following their sessions. Hilary is even investigating starting as a volunteer on reception. But the biggest plus for her, is getting her confidence back.

“It made such a lot of difference. Before, I’d try to plan days and think ‘why should I bother?’” she explained. “It was just me and Kelvin rattling about the house with our problems. Now. I have places to go, appointments, exercises to do and the house is geared up for me to get about without the use of my arm.”

Kelvin added: “I used to be such a keen sportsman, playing table tennis, squash and rugby. I now feel ready to be active again. I’m also really hoping to get some help from the apnoea clinic to improve my sleep.”

Hilary concluded: “Recently, we had all the extended family over – 13 adults, six children, some of them small and very lively and I loved every moment. I realised that a glimmer of the old me, the person I was before everything happened, is finally coming back.”