As Barry, 72, prepares to move out of Albert Road and transition into supported living where he can continue to develop his independence, we sat down with him, support worker Michael, and manager Joanne Colclough to celebrate his positive recovery outcomes.
“He’s a totally different Barry!”
When Barry first moved into Albert Road, our specialist neurological service in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, he was coming from a difficult period in his life.
Following a stroke that resulted in a brain injury and left him with communication difficulties, Barry spent a long time in hospital before being placed in an elderly care home.
The placement could not meet Barry’s needs due to his neurological condition and significant cognitive impairment. As a result of these challenges, Barry experienced a high level of distress within the setting, which ultimately led to the placement breaking down.
Thanks to the dedicated team at Albert Road, they responded quickly and confidently to understand Barry’s needs and provide him with a safe, consistent and person-centred environment.
To support a smooth transition into Albert Road, Barry and his support team developed a tailored support package, aimed at empowering him to regain confidence and independence following his brain injury.
The Albert Road team quickly discovered that their communication style had to be adapted to avoid Barry becoming distressed.
“It’s extremely important to understand a person’s cognitive impairment following a brain injury, especially attention and processing skills, and adapting to their needs.
“Communication was a significant barrier for Barry following his stroke, and he would become extremely agitated if he was unable to express his words, which led to him feeling anxious and angry. We quickly adapted our communication methods to suit Barry’s needs, using visual aids and modern technology, giving him time to process words, and providing a safe environment to feel confident.
“Over time, Barry’s anxiety and frustration reduced, and it was brilliant to see his confidence grow.”
Barry started to feel more confident and in control. With the right communication methods and encouragement, he was able to make choices about his daily life and start doing more that mattered to him.
With his regained confidence, Barry felt empowered to go out in the community. This was something he couldn’t do at his previous residential setting.
“It was horrible. You couldn’t go out like you can here.” – Barry explained.
As part of his flexible support package, Barry chose how he would spend his 1:1 support throughout the week. This person-centred approach gave him the opportunity to go out regularly, try new experiences and look forward to his time in the community.
Barry looks forward to days out to other cities, travelling by bus or train with his support team. He independently uses his iPhone to plan journeys and where he wants to go.
On the days when he chooses to have fewer hours of support, Barry independently completes laundry, his food shopping, and enjoys socialising with his housemates.
“Barry loves the flexibility of splitting his support hours throughout the week. On the days that he spends more time at home, he’s developed his independent living skills. He went out and bought steak to cook for lunch the other week, even choosing to buy some premium tomatoes to go with it. It smelt delicious in the kitchen!”
With the 2026 World Cup gripping the nation, Barry felt empowered to decorate the house for the occasion. He independently manages his own finances and bought flags to display within the house.
Barry encouraged his housemates to socialise and watch the football games together, which the whole house, support colleagues too, enjoyed getting involved in.
Michael added:
“It’s lovely to see Barry empowering his own housemates too. Those that may lack their own confidence or be a little bit shy, he encourages them to get involved in house activities.”
The person-centred support Barry received at Albert Road gave him the time, space and consistent support he needed to progress at his own pace.
Barry now feels confident to take the next steps on his journey toward independent living. With the support of Albert Road manager, Joanne, he has recently submitted a housing application to move into supported living with his own tenancy.
"The progression Barry’s made since moving into Albert Road is amazing. He’s a totally different Barry; it’s lovely to see.”
Barry’s progress has also been recognised by local health care professionals. When Occupational Therapists came to assess him before he completed his housing application, they could not believe this was the same person they had assessed before he moved into Albert Road.
If you would like to speak to our friendly referrals admin team, call us on 0333 305 0880 or email referrals@nationalcaregroup.com.
National Care Group is one of the UK’s leading adult social care providers. We support adults with learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, acquired brain injuries, and autistic people, with services across England and Wales.
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Registered office: Suite 22, The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, BB5 0RE
