Most of us joke that coffee saves our lives on a busy morning but for Jeremy, a trip for coffee really did. 

Jeremy loves humour. He loves getting out in the garden to water the flowers, visiting local cafés for a cup of coffee and he loves the comfort of his home, where he has lived for nearly 18 years. Most of all, he loves being around people he trusts. 

Jeremy has a learning disability and is blind. He can feel very anxious at times and finds it hard to explain when something hurts. If he is in pain, he does not always say it.  

You have to know Jeremy really well to spot the small signs - a change in his mood, a look on his face, a shift in his routine. 

Last year his support team began to notice those signs. His face was swelling, he was getting repeated infections, and he seemed stuck in a low mood that would not lift. Something was seriously wrong. 

Just the mention of dentists made Jeremy so anxious that he would leave the room. The last time he visited a dentist, he fled.  

“He’s very fearful of anything to do with nurses or doctors or dentists. The only place he’s ever really felt safe is here - unless it’s a café, which he loves.” 

- Sarah Deputy Manager  

But the team knew him too well to let it go. Without treatment, Jeremy could have become very seriously ill. The risk of sepsis was real. 

So they asked a simple but powerful question – how do we make this feel safe for Jeremy? 

The answer started with something he loves: coffee. 

The idea was to plan the visit like a café trip. Jeremy would think he was going out for breakfast. Nurses would greet him like baristas. The focus would be on keeping everything calm and familiar. 

Sarah admits she was not sure at first. She felt apprehensive. But the plan was carefully thought through. Every detail was considered. The team shared everything the dentists needed to know - what eases Jeremy’s anxiety, what does not work for him, how he communicates. 

“They knew Jeremy very well - what works for him, what doesn’t. That shared understanding made all the difference.”  

-  The Dentist  

When Jeremy arrived, nurses chatted to him about what he would like to drink. The atmosphere felt relaxed. His support team stayed close, offering reassurance. Jeremy was at the centre of every decision. 

When Jeremy was safely asleep for treatment, the full picture became clear. The infection was far worse than anyone expected. The operation was urgent and without it, the consequences could have been life-threatening. 

The plan worked. 

He’s gone from strength to strength. Jeremy is brighter, calmer and more comfortable. He can enjoy cafés, watering the garden, jokes and daily life again without hidden pain weighing him down. 

For Jeremy, feeling safe made life-saving treatment possible.