Rebuilding lives: Personalisation in Occupational Therapy

When Occupational Therapists Zoe Phillips and Laura Martin first met Denis, he had been confined to bed for more than a year. Yet today, he is standing, walking to his kitchen, and planning for long summer afternoons in the garden.

Denis' story is one of determination, but also a powerful reminder of what personalised, human-centred care can achieve. The conversation we had with Zoe, Laura, and Denis brings to life not only the practical skills of occupational therapy, but the emotional intelligence, creativity, and partnership required to support recovery. Their journey together highlights several key themes that matter deeply for modern care.

While working with Denis, Zoe and Laura were Occupational Therapists working for Lincolnshire County Council.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW to listen to our conversation with Zoe, Laura, and Denis.

Starting with what matters: The power of personal goals

Occupational therapy begins not with a diagnosis, but with a conversation, one that centres the person, their values, and the life they want to live. As Zoe explained, “Occupational therapy is really great for helping people do what they want to do… that person identifying what they want to achieve for themselves.”

For Denis, those goals were simple and deeply human:

“Get out of that bed, sit down in this chair, walk from here… into my bedroom, into the toilet, down to the kitchen.”

These were not abstract or clinical targets. They were everyday freedoms many of us take for granted. And because they were his goals, not someone else’s, they fuelled his motivation.

Laura: “The main reason Denis has achieved his goals is because of his motivation… he was always so keen to get involved.”

This principle of starting with what matters is crucial: real progress begins when people feel connected to the outcome.

Seeing potential where systems see barriers

When Laura first met Denis, she saw both his limitations and his determination. He had not borne weight for months; his legs were “very stuck in extension,” and he relied entirely on a hoist and four daily care visits. Yet Laura recognised something else - potential.

But systems don’t always respond quickly. Laura explained that the usual rehabilitation pathways had long waiting lists, and traditional roles didn’t neatly accommodate the support Denis needed: “Our service… is typically [about] long-term needs. It’s not something we usually do.”

Instead of accepting delay, Laura asked a different question: What can we do now?

“Why can’t I just get this started, or at least see where we can get to?”

This mindset - practical, flexible, person-centred - allowed Denis to begin rehabilitation immediately. Working with Zoe, they met with him every week, starting slowly, building trust, and adapting each session to what he could manage.

Because they took this personalised approach, Denis made rapid progress. And crucially, they gathered evidence to show other services his true potential:
“They have to see that rehab potential… this is where he started, this is where we’ve been able to get him to.”

Without that advocacy, Denis might still be waiting.

Breaking big dreams into small, achievable steps

Personalised care is not only about goals, it’s also about pacing. One of the most powerful aspects of Denis’s recovery was the way Zoe and Laura broke down his aims into small, achievable steps.

Zoe: “It was… breaking it down into smaller achievable goals… little, tiny goals which have added up to your meeting your long-term goal.”

Their first milestone wasn’t walking, it was simply sitting on the edge of the bed. Then standing with a Sara Stedy (a non-powered sit-to-stand aid). Then standing with support. Then taking steps with a frame.

Denis: “I didn’t want a lot in this world… I just wanted that support around.”
And each small achievement reinforced that he was moving toward the life he wanted.

This gradual, transparent approach helped rebuild not only his strength but his trust, something that had been damaged by previous experiences where he was promised progress that never came: “They said, ‘We’ll have you walking by August’… August came, Christmas came… still laying in that bed.”

Being honest about pace and progress, while still believing in the goal, made all the difference.

Relationships as the foundation of recovery

One of the most striking themes throughout our conversation was the genuine warmth between Denis and his therapists. He affectionately calls Laura his “little angel”, and Zoe observes the importance of that bond:

“Seeing the relationship between Laura and Denis… has made such a huge difference to everything being achieved.”

Therapy is not a transaction; it’s a partnership built on mutual trust. For Denis, who had experienced confusion, fear, and loss of independence, this relationship provided safety and confidence.

This trust enabled Denis to push through pain, fatigue, and fear. It enabled Laura and Zoe to try new approaches. And it allowed the whole process to be joyful, even in challenging moments.

Laura: “It’s always been an absolute pleasure to come out and see Dennis.”

In a sector that can sometimes be rushed or task-focused, this story reminds us that relationships and connection are not luxuries - they are essential.

The wider impact: Personal success and system savings

Denis’s progress transformed his everyday life, but it also had a significant impact on services. Before rehabilitation, Denis required two carers, four times a day. Now, he needs no package of care at all.

Laura: “It’s been over six months since he’s had care in.”

Denis added, with pride: “Nobody’s coming in now… my wife does it. We can do this ourselves.”

A few hours of personalised rehab not only restored Denis’s independence, it reduced long-term care costs, freed up staff capacity, and demonstrated the value of early, person-led support.

It is a powerful example of how personalised care is not only the right thing emotionally, it's also the smart thing economically.

Conclusion: A story of strength, partnership, and possibility

Denis’s journey is uplifting not because it is extraordinary, but because it is possible.

It shows what can happen when professionals listen deeply, respond flexibly, and believe in people’s potential. It shows how systems can be navigated, and sometimes gently bent, to better serve the individual. And it shows how personalised, relational care can restore not just function, but dignity, identity, and joy.

When asked what Laura and Zoe’s support had meant to him, Denis answered:
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.”

But Zoe and Laura are quick to return the credit: “Denis… a lot of this has come from you.”

And that’s the heart of it: personalised care works because it starts with people, people like Denis, with dreams of getting out and about in the garden again, people who are more than their limitations, and professionals who see not just where someone is, but where they could be.