Case studies
Carole, 65-year-old diabetic member
Carole is a 65 year old diabetic, who has been on the Birmingham OwnHealth project since it began in April 2006.
“When I started on the Birmingham OwnHealth programme my health was of a low standard, I was overweight and had low self-esteem due to several strokes. By 2009 I had lost enough weight to have my diabetic medication stopped, I was fitter, breathed easier and had confidence in myself.
“The main thing that my Care Manager did for me was to believe in me. Initially the Care Manager gave me the support and confidence to be willing to make a change with my life. Support was given through knowledge of my condition and ways to improve my health. Being informed that housework was an acceptable physical activity was a simple boost to my daily activity routine.
“It was easier to know I was doing exercise when doing housework rather than having to go to the gym. However, as time elapsed I did end up going to the gym, walking between bus stops and gardening (an activity I really love). I enrolled on a course to begin studying again, such was the confidence that I developed after so many years of it being absent.
“Sometimes a very small amount of advice and support can make a vast difference to my life. I hope this service continues for a very long time as I have gained a lot more from this than I ever envisaged.”
There’s a similar story from a 79 year old lady with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 39.3. She was referred to the Birmingham OwnHealth programme, but was very sceptical, not least because she was fed up being told what not to eat by others prior to joining the programme.
The Care Manager used motivational interviewing techniques to discuss in detail all the things that she could eat and established a positive rapport with the patient. The newly recruited member was happy to complete an initial assessment and become more involved in her own care and lifestyle changes. She is now looking forward to a positive relationship with Birmingham OwnHealth, leading to improvements in her overall health and well-being.
For more inspiring stories from our members, contact the Communications and Engagement Manager on 0121 380 0638.
William, 56, member with coronary heart disease
William is 56 and has coronary heart disease. He has been a member of Birmingham OwnHealth since January 2008.
“Before signing up to Birmingham OwnHealth, I was tired all the time and was often in a lot of pain. I didn’t really know why and I felt as though there was nothing I could do to improve things.
“But all of that changed when I started to talk regularly with my care manager.
“I immediately felt more confident about visiting my GP and began to get a better understanding of my condition and the medication I needed to take. I found it so easy to talk to my care manager and for me personally, even though I still remain in close contact with my GP, I found my care manager’s advice just as helpful. I also never get the feeling that I’m taking up somebody’s time unnecessarily.
“Before I enrolled, I felt really ill most of the time and it affected almost every aspect of my life. But OwnHealth has given me the confidence to work more closely with my GP to get the most out of my treatment and things have improved enormously. I’ve even been able to start working again, something I could only dream about while I was sitting at home suffering.
“I like the fact that my care manager is always just a phone call away. I can always get advice, information or just a bit of reassurance if I need it.”
