The open living spaces and private areas in their new High Wycombe home have been life-changing for Activ customers Roland and Douglas.
The gentlemen moved from a 10-bed duplex with numerous housemates into a spacious and quiet three-bedroom home at the High Wycombe Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) development, delivered through a partnership between Activ Foundation, WAI Group, and CHL and Community Housing Limited, in March.
Each of them has a beautiful large bedroom and their own ensuite bathroom, giving them privacy and a sense of ownership of their space.
All the gentlemen living in the home are quiet by nature, which enhances the sense of peace they are all able to enjoy. They take pleasure in each other’s company but also love the quiet downtime in their very own rooms.
In their previous abode, many of their housemates were very loud. These gentlemen often felt their space was being intruded upon and, most days there was some form of drama which significantly impacted everyone in the residence and was detrimental to their wellbeing.
Both of them were, for the most part, on their guard and anxious awaiting the next frustration; this heightened level often resulting in behaviours of concern.
This was especially the case for one of the gents, Roland, who would find the noise level made him anxious, which would quickly escalate to frustration.
Roland would most days end up shouting and swearing at his fellow housemate, followed by pacing the house and then isolating himself in his room with the door closed not wanting anyone to enter. It was unhealthy and impacting on his ability to live a fulfilled life.
Roland would regularly seek staff intervention and had a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan in place to help guide him and the staff through his escalations in an effort to assist Roland to calm back to a baseline following each incident.
Roland had regular fortnightly PBS meetings with his practitioner for the past few years, but we can proudly share that during his June 2023 plan review it was discussed and decided that Roland no longer requires fortnightly meetings and many of his behaviours of concern can be removed from his PBS plan because now he lives in a home with like-minded individuals and in his own space.
This new SDA home has given Roland back his peace of mind, he is now relaxed and has had no major escalations or demonstrated behaviours of concern.
He enjoys sitting out in the lounge with his two housemates, interacting, engaging, and watching TV. He no longer paces the house and when he goes to his room it is for an afternoon nap and some relaxation.
There is a lot of laughter in the house, and when Roland sees his Team Leader the conversations are now about how good his day has been and what he is looking forward to tomorrow.
One of the most amazing and clear indicators that Roland is feeling safe and content, is that he never shuts his bedroom door. It is always open, even during the night when he is sleeping. This is such a wonderful turnaround and Roland is truly a new man.
The environment of this new SDA development, which features eight three-bedroom homes on the site has offered the residents a safe space to live their best lives.
The move into these beautiful SDA homes has been incredibly positive and successful and will only get better over time as more residents experience the joys of their own space and a beautiful home.