Independent living at Betty Dodd Court
Lawrence - bpha Independent Living customer
bpha Independent Living customer, Lawrence, tells us how he came to live at Betty Dodd Court, Luton, and what day-to-day life there is like.
I moved in because mobility problems meant I was struggling where I was. In 2000 I had fatigue like I’d never experienced before, as well as some numbness. I saw a consultant who arranged for an MRI. The results didn’t show anything wrong. He said he thought it was stress-induced, rather than a physical problem, so he didn’t run many further tests, but I knew something still wasn’t right. By 2008, it was much worse, and my mobility was deteriorating – I could walk with crutches, but not for long. I ended up seeing the same consultant – this time he confirmed that I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS).”
Making the move to Betty Dodd Court
In 2013 I moved from a first floor flat to a ground floor flat to help me get around safely, but after a while, even accessing that was too hard. I spoke with Luton Borough Council, who suggested a move to Betty Dodd Court.
I’m in my early sixties, so my brother said: ‘Are you sure you want to live there, won’t the other residents be a lot older than you?’. I visited and was so impressed with the individual flats with modern facilities – and residents are in their 50s and above, so I didn’t have to worry about that! I am unable to walk at all now and use an electric wheelchair to get around. Betty Dodd facilities meet my needs perfectly.
I like being independent and here, I can be.
"The most important thing the staff do for me is say, ‘how are you, Lawrence?’ I was poorly recently and stayed in my flat. Heidi, the scheme manager, popped round because she hadn’t seen me for a couple of days to check I was okay."
I’ve lived on my own for a long time, I like it and I didn’t want that to change. At Betty Dodd, once I’m behind my front door, I’m in my own flat and have privacy. I’m not that sociable but I do like to see people – I‘ll stop to chat with other residents and staff when I go to the laundry for instance. I’ve got the best of both worlds. And I feel safe. Where I lived before there was vandalism and noise - I couldn’t live there safely now with my mobility needs.
The staff are so good humoured, and I enjoy a brief chat with them most days. There’s a difference between what they do and what people think of as carers. I don’t need a full-time carer – I can do some things myself and have friends to help me out with other things.
The most important thing the staff do for me is say, ‘how are you, Lawrence?’ I was poorly recently and stayed in my flat. Heidi, the scheme manager, popped round because she hadn’t seen me for a couple of days to check I was okay. It’s reassuring knowing that staff look out for you. I can’t think of a more ideal place to be – somewhere I am independent, safe, and cared about.
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