Tony*, a man in his 30s, faced a devastating turn of events. Once the owner of a thriving business, a sudden health condition affected his mobility, leaving him unable to work and confined to his small flat. On top of this, multiple bereavements, unexpected expenses, and a gas utility payment that drained his account left Tony struggling to afford food and basic necessities.
When Tony was referred to Age UK Islington by Adult Social Care, he was at his lowest. Enter Jenny, a Navigation Case Worker, who became a huge support. At first, Tony was wary – previous experiences had left him disillusioned with support services. But over three months, Jenny built a relationship of trust, working closely with Tony to tackle the overwhelming challenges he faced.
Tony, once a thriving business owner, lost his mobility due to a health condition, leaving him unable to work and struggling with isolation, bereavement, and financial hardship.
Tony’s first priority was food. Jenny helped him find a system that worked for him: relying on friends for regular shopping rather than carers, whose visits felt disruptive.
Recognising the dangers of his living situation – frequent falls while navigating stairs with crutches – Jenny assisted Tony in applying for a housing transfer to a ground-floor flat. Unfortunately, he was allocated a limited number of housing points despite his mobility problems. Jenny helped him to seek legal advice and to write to his MP for his case to be reconsidered.
Jenny also secured grants for essential furniture, including a bed. Sleeping on cushions had worsened Tony’s pain, and having a proper bed transformed his physical comfort and mental wellbeing.
Jenny secured grants for essentials like a bed, assisted him in applying for housing, and linked him to physiotherapy and emotional support services.
Jenny then connected Tony with REACH physiotherapists, who created a tailored exercise plan to improve his mobility. Meanwhile, a taxicard and freedom pass enabled Tony to attend appointments and engage with support services more independently.
With his sociable nature, isolation had taken a toll on Tony’s mental health. Jenny linked him to the Crisis team for emotional support, helping him feel less alone.
Tony regained stability, confidence, and hope. He’s now exploring ways to return to work, developing a product idea he’s passionate about.
When Jenny first met with Tony, he was mourning the loss of the life he used to have and lacked hope for the future. Since supporting Tony with the above issues, he is starting to think about being able to go back into employment.
Tony hopes to develop an idea he has for a product that could be useful within his industry and has linked him into a service that could support him to get his idea off the ground.
Jenny said that “It feels like there has been a definite change in his mood and his outlook in the last few conversations”.
*The photo shown is not of Tony
Organisations like these are facing huge strain, with both demand for services and running costs rising. Without you, vital projects like Age UK Islington couldn’t continue to provide essential points of connection and support for local people. Please donate what you can – every contribution counts.
