There is an assumption that independence is inversely proportional to care, but this is far from the case, as specialist learning disability care homes prove every single day.

Even beyond the purview of The Lodge, where learning and practising independent living skills are a key part of the care and support we provide, independence is a vital component of long-term care.

The core principle of social care is about providing a person as many opportunities as possible to be independent and make their own decisions, as long as they are supported with everything that they need.

This is why people in residential care have tailored care and support packages; they can pursue everything they want and take responsibility for everything they can, whilst getting the help and support that ensures they can achieve everything they want to.

The most important point to bear in mind is that support will look different for every person.

Some people will require additional mobility support and transportation so they can comfortably go to appointments, shop for themselves and meet as many needs as they can by themselves, whilst others need the safe space to learn and grow independently.

A major aspect of independence and how it connects to care is the principle of self-advocacy, or finding the best tools to communicate your needs, feelings, goals and ideal outcomes.

Residential care is a key part of this because it can cater for people at multiple steps of independence and self-advocacy. Self-reliance is a journey, and nobody travels the same path to get to the same destination.

Communication is critical to the best care, but it is also a two-way street; it is important to have comfortable communication skills that ensure that your needs are heard, but it is just as vital that caregivers have the skills to understand your needs and how you most effectively communicate them.