All the material stuff is good but all the staff are super good! They are friendly and really care. There is a real family feel at STEPS and they get to know you and your family. There is an enormous psychological component to neuro rehabilitation and all these things are so important. My whole life had changed, I had no family and friends nearby, and I was trying to work out how to get my life back together! If I had gone straight home from hospital it would have been terrifying and if I had gone to a nursing home that would have been equally terrible.
I have learnt to be more independent. There are lots of young clients and staff; there is a busy, enthusiastic positive atmosphere. A large number of the rehab assistants haven’t worked in care before and I think this makes them more open minded and enthusiastic in my opinion. The staff talk to you, they are all very sociable and there is such a vibrant atmosphere. I think it is good having a mix of clients of different ages and different conditions, it feels ‘normal’. I think STEPS is like a nice hotel with a gym full of neuro physios!
When I first arrived I wasn’t in a good place. I didn’t like anyone or anything. I had been in hospital for 8 months. I had no choice on my care or recreation activities. I would just get up and sit in my chair all day, I did nothing. Coming to STEPS was a bit stressful to begin with, as I had to direct my care and choose what to do and actually do things! I had to get to know lots of new people and have lots of therapy.
There is a real family feel at STEPS, it is a really nice community and everyone gets on well. The rehab assistants are just great and many a time they have stayed on after their shift has finished to continue to chat to me.
Izzy and I really liked the fact that Toria and Jules are so visible in STEPS and I remember when I arrived being surprised that the directors made time to talk to us. We both feel we have developed a relationship with Jules and Toria and will definitely stay in touch.
What do you think future clients would want to know?
You will get looked after really well, I have been able to have my adapted vehicle parked in the car park so we have been able to use it whenever we have wanted to. Friends can visit at any time, there are no strict visiting times and there are lots of places for us to sit and have privacy. The food is ‘the next level and I want to steal lots of your rehab assistants!
It has been great to have my own room with lots of space for all my things; in hospital there was no room for any of my belongings.
The physiotherapy has been superb; we have tried so many new things. If I found something I wanted to try from reading research papers, Jo would try it. We have tried everything and I am going to come back for physio as a day client.
I am ready to move into my own place now.