Supporting EM: A Personalised Care Journey Built on Trust and Expertise

“Direct Homecare have been consistently supportive, flexible and accommodating. Communication has been excellent and they always go the extra mile to make the care package work for us.”

Understanding EM's Needs

EM was born with several medical conditions, including:

• Laryngomalacia
• Neurological hearing loss
• Soft dysmorphic features

She also has additional care needs, including a tracheostomy and being gastrostomy fed, which require specialist daily management and close monitoring.

Despite these challenges, EM is an energetic, curious child who loves being outdoors, playing football and tennis, and spending time with her family. Our goal was to help her enjoy as normal and active a childhood as possible while ensuring her health and safety remained the top priority.

Our Approach: Personalised, Collaborative Care

From the outset, our team worked closely with EM’s family to develop a personalised care plan tailored to her medical requirements and daily routines. She receives dedicated night-time care, giving her the stable rest she needs for school and maintaining safe breathing throughout the night.

Thanks to this collaborative approach, EM has continued to thrive—gaining confidence and independence while enjoying all the activities she loves.

 

Clinical Excellence in Everyday Care

Our care team supports EM across several core areas:

Respiratory Care

• Monitoring respiratory rate
• Checking her tracheostomy daily for signs of infection
• Ensuring suction machines are fully charged and available

Nutrition & Hydration

• Monitoring for signs of dehydration
• Managing gastrostomy feeds safely

Safety & Wellbeing

• Continuous observation and risk assessments
• Airway monitoring
• Ensuring equipment is used correctly and safely

Medication Oversight

• Timely administration and documentation of medications
• Monitoring stock levels and informing parents when additional supplies are needed
• Flushing gastrostomy-administered medications to prevent blockages

Key Outcomes

Since Direct Homecare began supporting EM, several significant improvements have been achieved:

• Stronger communication between family and staff, resulting in a transparent, collaborative partnership
• Improved health, allowing for a gradual decrease in the amount of care EM requires
• Developing airway strength, creating the possibility that her tracheostomy tube may be removed in the future

These outcomes highlight not only EM’s progress but also the positive impact of a consistent, specialist homecare team.