At Revival, our mission is to help people live safely and independently at home for as long as possible.
Through our wellbeing support service, we work closely with the Integrated Discharge Hub, Adult Social Care, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Emergency Duty Team to offer personalised support to residents in both hospital and community settings.
One recent experience shows how compassionate, steady support can make a real difference when people are facing big life changes.
We were contacted to offer wellbeing support to Alan, a gentleman in his mid-70s, and his wife. They had lived in their three-bedroom family home for many years, but it was no longer suitable for their needs.
They were unsure whether to sell their home and move into supported living. Alan’s wife felt ready to move, while Alan, who is a hoarder, felt overwhelmed by the prospect and unsure about leaving the home he loved. At the wife’s request, our wellbeing team provided weekly telephone support, giving both Alan and his wife the time and space to talk openly about their worries, hopes, and expectations.
During these conversations, we helped them gently explore their options. We talked about visiting a retirement village to get a real feel for the environment before making a decision. We encouraged them to create a list of pros and cons so they could reflect together in a structured and calm way. We discussed the possibility of using storage for some of Alan’s possessions to reduce the pressure around moving. We also explored a variety of other housing options to make sure they felt empowered rather than limited.
After taking time to consider everything and talking through their concerns, Alan and his wife realised that the retirement village wasn’t the right fit for them, it felt too small and didn’t meet their needs. But, through these conversations, they discovered alternatives they hadn’t considered before.
With support from Revival and their son, they soon found a bungalow close to where their son lives. The bungalow offers the space and layout they need, and it even has a garden room where Alan can keep more of his treasured belongings. They are now in the process of putting in an offer and preparing to place their current home on the market.
Both Alan and his wife shared how grateful they were for Revival’s support, saying it helped them think clearly about the practicalities of moving and make thoughtful, confident decisions.
Reflecting on his experience, Alan said: “Without speaking to the staff at Revival, we wouldn’t have thought about moving into a bungalow. We were only thinking about apartments in a retirement home. Now we both feel so much happier. The bungalow gives us more space, I can keep more of my things, and we feel like we’ll be able to stay independent for longer.”
Their journey shows how the right support, offered at the right time, can help people feel reassured, informed, and ready for the next chapter in their lives.
Find out more about the Wellbeing Support Service and how the team could help you or a loved one here
