Sam’s Transition from the Family Home

Published by Jo on 28th April 2026

Sam’s Transition from the Family Home

A Guest Blog by Brigid DeCourcy

For many families, the prospect of a transition to residential care feels like a daunting leap into the unknown. When Brigid DeCourcy first considered this path for her son Sam, she was met with a complex mix of emotion and uncertainty. In this guest blog, Brigid shares a deeply personal reflection on Sam’s journey—moving from the family home into a supportive, shared environment where trust and person-centred care have allowed him to truly find his place.

The thought of our son Sam, who has a learning disability, autism, and Down syndrome, moving out of the family home at the age of 46 was something we approached with a great deal of emotion and uncertainty. Like many parents, we carried deep concerns, particularly given what we had heard over the years about poor standards of care in some settings. Sam has very specific needs and his own unique way of communicating, and we worried about whether he would be understood, valued, and consistently supported in a new environment.When asked directly at the outset, Sam was very clear that he did not want to leave home, which made the decision especially difficult for us as a family. However, as I grow older, I felt a deep sense of responsibility towards his future in terms of planning and overseeing his transition while I was still able to do so. It felt important that Sam could become independently settled, so that if anything were to happen to me or my husband in the future, he would already be living in a place where he felt safe, secure, and supported.

We were also very aware of how difficult change can be for Sam. Transitions have never been easy for him, and at times he can express his anxiety or distress through behaviours that others might describe as challenging. As his parents, we feared that such a significant life change could be overwhelming, and that moving away from the familiarity and security of home might increase his anxiety if it was not handled with great care, patience, and understanding.

Aligning Values with Green Light

When we began researching potential support, we came across Green Light, we heard consistently positive things about their approach. Sam then took part in a very thoughtful two-day assessment with Darina, a Green Light behaviour analyst. From the outset, I felt that Darina really took time to observe and understand Sam. Her understanding of him was incredibly perceptive, and I felt strongly through our discussions that our values around how Sam should be supported were closely aligned. When Green Light confirmed that they could meet Sam’s needs, it brought a sense of reassurance that things could work positively for a successful transition for him.

Green Light Behaviour Analyst Darina, a specialist in autism care and learning disability assessments and residential transitions in Cornwall.

Darina Donnellan, UKBA(cert)

A Transition at Sam’s Pace

Sam’s transition was very carefully planned and took place slowly over many months, always at his pace. To begin with, a small number of his support team came to work with us in our own home. This gentle approach allowed Sam, and all of us as a family, to get to know his carers in the comfort and safety of familiar surroundings. Trust and relationships were able to grow naturally, and there was a real sense of continuity and consistency in how Sam was being supported. It is also worth noting that we live in a place that is difficult to access, yet this was never a problem for any of the Green Light staff.

After around four months, Sam felt ready to try his first overnight stay. Sleep has often been an area of difficulty for him, and he can experience waking nights, so this was something we were particularly anxious about. However, with calm, consistent, and responsive support, his sleep had already begun to improve significantly. This small but important step reassured us that Sam’s needs were being understood and met in a thoughtful and compassionate way.

“From the very beginning, Jo Pyrah, the CEO of Green Light, walked alongside us as a family throughout this transition… I have always felt able to make direct contact with Jo, which has meant a great deal to us.”

I can genuinely say that the Green Light team, Jo Pyrah, Darina, Jabe, along with Chris and Ash, the manager and deputy manager of Sam’s home, as well as his dedicated team of carers, supported us with kindness, respect, and understanding throughout. They made this transition not only a positive experience for Sam, but also for me as his parent and full-time carer for so many years. I always felt included, listened to, and respected, and that my knowledge of Sam mattered.Green Light’s attention to detail about Sam has never been too much; their approach is highly person-centred. They keep him connected to his family and to his community, ensuring he maintains these important relationships. Sam is fully occupied, engaged in interesting and stimulating daily activities, exploring new interests, and developing skills. The team is always curious about Sam, keen to see him grow and develop, and genuinely invested in his happiness and well being.

A New Chapter

Today, Sam is very happily settled in his new home. In fact, he now prefers not to stay with us at home anymore, which feels entirely right, much as I did when I first left home myself. He enjoys our visits and the time we spend together, but he clearly feels secure, confident, and content in his own life and his own space.

For any parent of an adult child such as Sam, this is what we hope for: that our children are well cared for, happy, and able to live fulfilling lives without the need for ongoing parental care, particularly as we ourselves grow older. Seeing Sam settled, supported, and happy gives us an immense sense of relief, comfort, and reassurance.

Sam, a man with autism and Down syndrome, smiling while decorating gingerbread men in the warm, modern kitchen of his new independent home

Sam & Ash baking

Sam’s Transition from the Family Home