At 54 years old Ashley is living with a neurological disorder caused by non-progressive brain injury. This condition is referred to as Cerebral Palsy. This lifelong condition has not however stopped him from pursuing his hobbies and living the best quality of life.
Living the best quality of life possible
Ashley has been with Beloved Homecare for 2 years and is currently living with his mum. Ashley is a personable individual who loves to meet new people, watching football including his favourite team Manchester United, gaming, and reading.
Maintaining Ashley’s mental health and quality of life through hobbies and social interactions
Ashley has a strong passion for swimming. To help maintain his passion and hobby a member of our care team takes Ashley swimming once a week. This helps with his mobility in his daily life and the exercise this gives him helps reduce the number and severity of the leg cramps he endures during the week.
We also offer Ashley the option to go on an outing of his choice once a week. He is seen here with our Managing Director, Mark Collier, at Harry Ramsdens enjoying a dessert after eating his favorite meal of fish and chips. Prior to this, we helped Ashley attend the wonderful local gaming facility in Sale Everyone Can.
The video below shows Ashley and our Managing Director at the local swimming baths.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect your coordination and movement, caused by a problem with the brain that occurs before, during or soon after birth.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy
Usually, the symptoms are not obvious when a baby is born. They normally become noticeable when the child is around two years of age.
The symptoms include:
- Weak arms or legs
- Random, uncontrolled movements
- Walking on tiptoes
- Delays in reaching development milestones – not being able to walk by 18 months
- A range of other problems – speaking problems, vision problems, learning difficulties, and swallowing difficulties.
How severe the symptoms are can vary depending on the individual. Some people only have minor problems, while others are severely disabled.
Treatment
According to mayoclinic.org treatment for both children and adults with cerebral palsy requires long-term care with a medical care team. These healthcare professionals can include a:
- Physiatrist
- Paediatrician
- Possibly a paediatric neurologist to oversee your child’s medical care
- Potentially therapists and mental health specialists
When to see a doctor
It is important to get the appropriate diagnoses from the appropriate healthcare professional at the earliest time. See your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about episodes your child is experiencing. These episodes can include loss of awareness around surroundings or abnormal bodily movements, impaired co-ordination, swallowing difficulties, eye muscle imbalance, or other growth and developmental issues.