Steve’s Story
“It’s good to see Steve interact with other patients and I like to see his movements. I’ve also got to meet other patients on the ward. It’s a social lifeline, not just for Steve but also for me.” Steve’s wife Anne.
Steve is 71 years old, married to Anne and has two daughters and two grand-daughters. For most of his working life Steve worked in the banking industry, though his real passion lay in working with his hands and making things, even building an extension to the family home. A keen art lover, he would often visit the National Gallery in his lunch break and enjoyed taking his family to see blockbuster art exhibitions.
But at the age of 57, Steve was made redundant. Undeterred and making the most of his background in DIY, he began work as a school caretaker and developed a gardening business. In July 2014, during some very wet weather, Steve fell off a ladder, sustaining head trauma and severe brain injury. He has been a residential in-patient in Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability since January 2015, living with complex physical and cognitive disabilities that severely limit his ability to actively participate in everyday life.
He can hear and has movement in his arms and hands, and pays attention to objects and people visually. But Steve’s severe mobility and communication issues makes it difficult for him to join in activities or interact with others. Although he needs simulation, he also needs lots of rest.
Having no prior experience of dance at all, Steve has been taking part in CoDa’s weekly dance sessions at RHN for the past 6 months. The sessions provide him with the gentle stimulation he needs. With the support of his wife Anne, he moves his arms and hands in time with the music and makes eye contact with others.
Initially Anne accompanied Steve to the sessions just to support him. But she found that they offered her an enjoyable way to spend time with Steve, and they both continue to attend every week. Anne told us that Steve likes the attention he receives from the dance leaders, and even has a favourite!
