Meg’s Journey of Reconnecting with Life at Ridgeway Rise
Meg’s life has always been defined by community and compassion. She grew up in Guyana as the youngest of four before being nicknamed “Meg” during her nursing training. This name followed her through her life, which was dedicated to helping others. From her time working in nursing and supporting older people in the community to later enjoying travel, ballroom dancing and family time, Meg had built a life full of warmth and purpose.
When Meg joined us at Ridgeway Rise Care Home in June 2025, she was beginning a new chapter after experiencing a stroke that left her unable to express herself verbally. Although she understood everything happening around her, communicating became deeply frustrating and her world grew quieter as she adjusted to this change. She and her family were looking for expert nursing care in an environment where she could regain her confidence and joy.
Rebuilding Her Confidence and Connection
When Meg first arrived at Ridgeway Rise, much of her day was spent in her room and it was clear the loss of speech had brought emotional challenges for her. Our entire team was determined to rebuild her sense of connection and worked closely with her and her family to understand her needs and how we could adapt our approach to support Meg.
Through the guidance of our Speech and Language Therapists, we learned new ways to communicate with Meg using body language, tone and facial expressions. These small but meaningful approaches soon became the foundation of a shared understanding and allowed Meg’s personality and warmth to shine again. We also organised regular physiotherapy visits to safely support Meg’s mobility and over time, she regained the ability to stand and walk with assistance.
These moments of progress were always celebrated together. From Meg’s first walks down the corridor to her first smiles during an activity session, our team made sure every milestone was marked with encouragement and pride. One of the most emotional moments came during her birthday celebration, where her family joined in as we sang and decorated the room with banners reading “Happy Birthday Meg!”. Meg cried with joy during the celebrations and it was so heartwarming for our team and her family to see the impact that these moments had on Meg’s well-being.
Olesya Santalova, our Unit Manager, described her experience with Meg beautifully: “There are moments in care that stay with you forever, and this was one of them. Supporting a resident after her stroke, when words were no longer available to her, challenged me in ways I hadn’t experienced before. Yet, in that silence, we found something truly special. Through smiles, gentle gestures, and shared understanding, we created our own way of communicating. It taught me that connection doesn’t always need words—it needs patience, empathy, and heart.
I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to grow through this experience, and for Meg’s guidance, which helped me find confidence in unfamiliar territory. Caring for her was both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and it reminded me why I do what I do. Even in the hardest moments, there is always a way to reach one another.”
As Meg’s confidence grew, so did her participation in daily life at Ridgeway Rise. She began joining group activities, attending the on-site cinema and even taking part in the knitting club alongside her daughter. It was a full circle moment for her as she used to crochet clothes for her daughter when she was younger, and now they are able to knit alongside each other once again. Travel remains close to Meg’s heart, so our team also regularly put travel videos on her iPad for her to enjoy. Today, Meg walks to activities with assistance, communicates in her own expressive way and continues to be a cherished part of our Ridgeway Rise family.
Shelly, Meg’s daughter, has also shared some heartwarming thoughts regarding Meg’s journey: “One of the things that challenged me when mum had her stroke was that we could no longer speak to each other. I was never sure I would be giving her what she wants if she could not say, but over time, we found new ways to communicate and be assured. We both looked at care homes online, and she smiled until there were dimples showing when she saw Ridgeway Rise. In this moment, I knew that this was the best place for her upon discharge from the hospital. Despite losing so much following the stroke, mum is still capable of experiencing joy and that's all I ever wanted. Ridgeway Rise give her reasons to experience joy every day, with the small things, like small tastes of her favourite food, time with the grandchildren or watching Hyacinth Bouquet drive her husband mad in ‘Keeping Up Appearances’.
Ridgeway Rise has been a safe and nurturing place for Mum on this journey of healing, offering reassurance and community for her as well as for us as her family. The belief and support that were missing in a hospital setting have been transformative for Mum whilst here. I now get to see her gently bloom, grow in strength and surpass even her own goals.”
More Than a Care Home in Swindon
At Ridgeway Rise Care Home, we believe that recovery is not only physical. It’s emotional and deeply personal. Every resident is supported with compassion and understanding to ensure they can live life to the fullest, regardless of the challenges they face. Meg’s journey is a powerful example of how specialist care, combined with empathy and creativity, can rebuild confidence and connection after a life-changing event.
As Meg and her family prepare for her next step of returning home, our team continues to work closely with external healthcare professionals to ensure a seamless transition and the continuation of the care and support she has come to know and trust.
If you would like to find out more about our exceptional care services or first-class facilities at our care home in Swindon, please contact our friendly team today. We would be delighted to show you first-hand what makes us so special.
