Salters Hill | Providing Homes and a Fulfilled Lifestyle for Adults with Learning Disabilities

heading a week in the life of, and picture of people on a beach

Keith
My name is Keith, I live in the studio flat at Ryelands and I would like to tell you about my routine on a Tuesday. Most of the time I get up and dressed by myself and I make my own breakfast. I usually feed the cat too, her name is Snowy. I don’t go out on a Tuesday morning so I often make my two flat mates a cup of coffee before they both go out. I have 1:1 time with staff on a Tuesday to do some household chores. This starts at 9am. I have support to strip and re-make my bed, do my laundry and clean my bedroom. I then read my post and pay any bills that I may have. I make my lunch and then I have support to get on the bus. Although I travel on my own which makes me feel really confident and independent, I need a member of staff to support me to get off the bus at the other end of my journey. I then walk with them to the afternoon session at a Drama group which I enjoy. I get collected from the “Expression through Drama” session by another member of staff who then drops me off at the post office in the local community to buy my television magazine. I have been doing this for a long time and I know Gordon from the post office quite well now. Often in the evening we have the choice of whether we would like to go to a group called Leisure Link. We do activities such as bowling, karaoke, disco’s or games nights. I usually like to go and meet up with my friends and have a beer.
John I live independently with my housemate Tracy and we both get up early everyday to let staff in to support us. I dress myself everyday and I make my breakfast everyday too and I always offer staff a coffee and if they want one I will make it for them. On a Monday I usually have a chilled day where I do cleaning with staff and job that need doing around the house. Also I go food shopping in the afternoon with staff. Depended who is supporting me I either walk to the shops or staff drive me. Tuesdays and Thursdays I attend Land and Livestock. I have done this many years and still enjoy it today as much as I did when I first started. During this session I have done sheep sheering, lambing, used the tractor and other activities that I really enjoy. I look forward to Land and Livestock every week! If Land and Livestock is at Pound Farm I will catch the bus. I need staff to support me to get the bus but I’m confident enough to can go on the bus on my own. If it is at Keepers Cottage I usually get a lift. On Wednesdays I usually go into town with staff and do jobs such as paying bills and banking. If it’s nice weather I usually walk and I enjoy this bit of exercise. Fridays I attend a Gardening group which allows me to improve on my gardening skills. This is fun for me as I really enjoy gardening and the outdoors. I usually have a chilled weekend with Tracy. Sometimes we stay in and have a take-away or a meal but sometimes we go to the cinema or out for tea. Usually on a Sunday we will have a roast and then I will go to Chapel. Sometimes when I am out and about either with staff or alone I treat myself to a coffee and on the odd occasion a slice of cake! I know its naughty but I have a very sweet tooth! Every week I do menu planning with staff and Tracy. I like to do this because it means that I am eating the food I want to eat and people are not picking for me.