Case Study: “Care & Repair got me home.”

Gillian Arnold worked in the prison service for 20 years before she had a stroke in January 2024.

Being discharged from hospital and into her small 100-year-old cottage near Pontypool was not straight forward. But Care & Repair was able to make the changes needed.

Gillian explains what happened: “I had a stroke on 7 January 2024 and was hospitalised for three months. I went into work that day and felt a little bit funny. I told my governor and they sent me to hospital. Then I had a full-blown stroke in the night.

“I was under an occupational therapist [while in hospital] and they wanted photographs of my house, so my daughters took some photos so they could see. They said you can’t go home until you have rails on the stairs and rails at the front of the house. So, they got Care & Repair to speak to my daughters.

“By the time I came home everything was done! I had rails in the garden, on my stairs and by the door, I have had lifters on my sofa and a shower seat fitted in the bathroom. I have also had a key safe and security light put by my front door.

“Care & Repair got me home. We were in touch with Donna and she was absolutely amazing.”

Gillian with Teddy the dog.

Donna Coughlin is the Hospital to a Healthier Home Caseworker at Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Torfaen. She said: “Gillian was referred to us by the stroke ward at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr. Her home had an open sided staircase which meant it just would not be safe for her to go home.

“We got a lot of aids and adaptations in for her. Once we had them in place she was able to be discharged and then shortly after I did a follow-up visit.

“When I met her I was immediately so impressed. I come from a background working as a stroke support coordinator, so I have met a lot of stroke survivors. I was impressed by how well Gillian has coped and her openness to try the services and things that could help her.

“She has such a lovely way about her, not focussing on what she can’t do but on what she can do. The nurses on her ward asked her to speak to other stroke patients as she just exudes positivity.

When asked about what the changes have meant to her, Gillian said: “The impact is that I can live in my house because there was nothing here. I couldn’t get up the stairs!”

In March 2024 the Care & Repair Ambassador Scheme launched, and Gillian Arnold became our very first Ambassador. To find out more about the scheme: