34 Recognised as our Most Trusted Specialist Care Provider for Eating Disorders 2023 – Suffolk, Bramacare is a transitional eating disorder service for adults highlighting the difference that specialist care and rehabilitation can make in supporting adults towards recovery. There are an estimated 1.25 million people in the UK who currently have an eating disorder (ref: Beat, 2022) and sadly, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia continue to have one of the highest mortality rates in all mental health conditions. Despite this, diagnosis and waiting lists for treatment can take a long time, and many people will be referred to clinical care in a hospital setting once they become medically vulnerable. Bramacare is one of few specialist care providers offering transitional rehabilitation for adults with eating disorders and disordered eating. Its bespoke approach enables adults to transition towards independent or community living with specialist support, which is especially beneficial for those who have spent many years in a hospital ward. Laetitia Beaujard-Ramoo, CEO of Bramacare, explains, “For the best chance of recovery, it is vital that those with an eating disorder receive an early diagnosis and specialist support. “There are many misconceptions which can make it difficult to diagnose an eating disorder, for example both men and women can be affected, and they may have a normal weight with no physical changes. Often people struggle many years before getting the help they need due to the stigma and difficulty in accessing specialist services. “At Bramacare, we do not just look at a person’s weight or BMI, we look at their patterns and behaviours to determine what level of care would benefit them – from 24/7 nursing care and residential rehabilitation, to transitional living and day care services. It’s important that the level of care is flexible to meet the service user’s changing needs as they progress towards recovery.” Here, Bramacare is shining a light on what a community eating disorder service can look like, how it benefits those being discharged from hospital, and how vital it is for all adults to be able to access specialist mental health support quickly when they need it. Specialist Rehabilitation Bramacare considers there to be four types of specialist eating disorder rehabilitation: 1. Nutritional: Establishing and monitoring the nutrition and fluid intake, working towards a well-balanced and nourishing diet. 2. Physical: Focusing on the individual’s physical health and weight/ BMI, working towards restoration and stabilisation, and rebuilding muscular strength. 3. Mental: Supporting adults to build their confidence and lead in their own care, including all kinds of therapeutic intervention from psychoeducation to group therapy. 4. Social: Reviewing an individual’s personal life and ways to improve their social situation, including relations with family and friends, community networks, social activities, work, education, and future aspirations. Bramacare believes that rehabilitation, particularly the difficult transition between hospital and home/community settings, works best when all four of the above areas are addressed together. Adults working towards recovery need access to specialist care and support to understand the root cause of their eating disorder or disordered eating. This is in order to build therapeutic relationships with eating to enhance their motivation for change, and to remove any barriers for maintaining adequate nutritional health and wellbeing. Care in a Non-Clinical Setting One of the standout qualities of specialist residential rehabilitation is the home-from-home environment. Receiving clinical treatment in a comfortable, non-clinical, familiar setting can enable adults to relax and focus on their recovery. There is also the opportunity to build supportive relationships with other service users, which is encouraged at Bramacare through group activities and communal spaces shared by residents. Laetitia Beaujard-Ramoo says, “When we first established Bramacare in 2017, it was important to us that our residential rehabilitation centre, The White House offered a homely environment for service users. It is their home and we treat it as such. They have their own bedroom to decorate as they wish – which is paramount for those who have been in hospital for many years. They can enjoy our communal leisure room with sofas, TV, library, and games, our arts and crafts room, or our gardens overlooking the local park. “We also have a spacious communal kitchen where residents can rediscover their independence and learn new cookery skills, as well as enjoy a menu of homemade, nutritious meals created by our excellent chef. The Vital Need for Specialist Care to Help Adults Towards Eating Disorder Recovery
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