Meet Gaynor Elizabeth
Gaynor Elizabeth has been living in one of our supported living homes in Merseyside for over 10 years. She has a brother who lives nearby who visits her every week.
Gaynor Elizabeth is settled in supported living and has built amazing friendships with the support staff from Potens and the other tenants. She lived with her mum before making the move to supported living. Sadly, Gaynor Elizabeth’s mum passed away and she suffered with her mental health. She spent five months in a hospital setting for support with her mental health.
She said: “When I first came to my home, I fell in love with it. I feel safe here. We have got a good team here.
“You could not get better managers, staff and tenants. Kris, the manager, is very caring. He is very kind. He is very thoughtful, and he always puts you at ease and he likes a happy home. Everybody here in my home is lucky to have such a good manager.
“It is just the best place I have ever lived in my life, and I will grow old gracefully here. It is a beautiful house. It is very clean. Every day I wake up, I look forward to the day and enjoy all the days in my beautiful home.”
Gaynor Elizabeth has a pet budgie called Charlie. She said: “She loves to come out and fly around. I don't know what I would do without her.”
Life skills and mental health support
Support staff from Potens have helped Gaynor Elizabeth with cooking, cleaning, and accessing the mental health support that she needs. “The staff always support me and help me. I always make sure my room is nice and clean. I have a good life here. I have learned how to handle my mental health very well and I have achieved all my goals”, says Gaynor Elizabeth.
Kris, support manager at Potens, shared how Gaynor Elizabeth has flourished in her supported living home. Support staff help Gaynor Elizabeth with her mental health through talking, organising mental health group meetings, and various activities. He said: “Gaynor Elizabeth found talking and keeping occupied and doing things with us helps. Also, recognising that the winter can be a struggle as she lost her mum during that time of the year. We find engaging that little bit more helps keep Gaynor Elizabeth’s mental health very well.
“Gaynor Elizabeth works to retain as much independence as possible. She will call the GP herself rather than having us do it for her. There are some things that Gaynor Elizabeth needs extra support with such as shopping and cooking big meals.”
Hobbies and public speaking
Gaynor Elizabeth enjoys writing poetry, reading, walking, and clothes shopping. She writes poetry about mental health and also the support staff. Gaynor Elizabeth shares her experience and mental health journey with RWP tenants and other tenants supported by Potens through public speaking at mental health groups and events, including at delivering a speech at a charity walk last year for the Mental Health Foundation which was in support of the theme ‘move more for mental health’.
“I wrote some speeches that I gave to other people from different houses. I would like to carry on doing it. I have spoken at mental health groups, and I would like to carry on doing it. I have been doing that now for the last couple of years.”
Gaynor Elizabeth shares how she helps other with her positive messages and encouragement to start conversations. “Sharing my story has inspired me to help other people. Think positive. Achieve all your goals. Have faith in yourself. Be bold, be strong. Use your willpower. Focus on things.
"Don't let things get on top of you. Ask staff to talk about your options and ways you can discuss them. It will do you good to talk about it. You will feel so much better. I have faith in all of you. If I can do it, then you can do it. I look forward to doing more speeches in the future.”