Meet Natasha
Natasha moved to Meesons Lodge four years ago after her previous home closed. It was important to both Natasha and her mother that she lived within an hour’s drive of the family home, helping them to stay connected and maintain regular contact.
First Steps
Before moving in, Natasha visited Meesons Lodge several times. She joined everyone for lunch, took part in activities and spent time preparing her room, which helped her new home feel more familiar.
During each visit, a small group of team members spent one-to-one time with Natasha, allowing her to get to know them at her own pace and begin building trusting relationships.
Natasha’s mother and foster mother were closely involved throughout the transition, sharing valuable insights that helped the team understand her needs and preferences. This approach supported Natasha to settle quickly into life at Meesons Lodge.
As Natasha is non-verbal, she communicates through facial expressions, body language and gestures, such as taking someone’s hand when she would like their attention. She is cheerful and expressive and especially enjoys trips in the minibus, often making it clear that she would like to stay out for longer.
Ongoing support
By identifying and noticing the signs Natasha uses to communicate as well as working closely with her family, the team is able to provide support that reflects what matters most to Natasha and offers greater choice in her day-to-day life.
At home, Natasha enjoys arts and crafts, books, music, instruments and Mr Tumble, as well as outings to the local town and park.
Natasha’s family relationships remain important to her, so she visits her mother as much as possible and has also recently reconnected with her foster sister after briefly losing touch during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was delighted to spend time with her foster sister and really enjoyed the new clothes she had bought for her.
Natasha’s Progress
Natasha now has greater choice in her everyday life, from deciding what she would like to wear each morning to choosing how she spends her day. She is always keen to get ready for an outing and confidently lets the team know when she feels they are taking a little too long.
Natasha enjoys a varied and active life, including canoeing, bowling, trips to the cinema and the annual Christmas pantomime. She also takes part in local outings, spends time with the people around her and enjoys being involved in the kitchen.
Natasha has built strong relationships with the team that supports her and is enjoying a life filled with choice, connection and meaningful experiences.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, Natasha would like to develop her cooking skills. Although she does not eat the food herself, she enjoys spending time in the kitchen and being involved in preparing meals and treats. She would also love to visit Center Parcs and take part in some of the activities there.
Natasha will continue visiting her mother at home and spending time with her and her foster sister when they visit Meesons Lodge. With these visits becoming more frequent, the family is excited to spend more quality time together and make valuable memories.
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