Special times with Ken
Meeting someone who is 95 years old is quite an honour. A human being who has walked on this earth for so many years must have many experiences to share, I think, as I walk up the driveway and approach Ken's unit. I wonder if he will accept me and feel comfortable sharing with me some of his history?
Best of Care's new programme, Career Angels, is an Australian Government initiative. The programme was created to provide part-time respite care for full-time carers who may be employed or doing vocational study.
Liz, who has a young family, is caring for her mother who lives with them. Liz's mother is a lady in her eighties who has lived in many European countries before emigrating to Australia. She is in poor health and suffers from memory loss.
Liz is a former teacher whose qualifications are not recognised in Australia, so she is attending classes to update her certification. Liz also works part-time so an enormous juggling act is required. Her young daughter is an avid netballer so Liz spends a lot of time encouraging her and driving her to netball matches.
The Career Angels program provides a personal carer for nine flexible hours a week which allows Liz to attend classes and netball. "I never dreamed there was such a wonderful programme available," Liz said. "It has reduced the stress on every family member and allowed me to follow my dream of teaching."
The younger members of Liz's family pursue their own interests while Best of Care's personal carer creates companionship and does meaningful activities with Liz's mother. The personal carer draws the mother into reminiscing about her wonderful interesting past.
They also go on slow walks in the nearby park to maintain
Liz's mother's mobility. To Liz's delight the personal carer skilfully
involves her mother in participating in the preparation of the evening
meals for the family and thus giving Liz's mother a sense of purpose.
Career Angels is available to those caring for someone who is frail aged
or who has Dementia, and who is also working, seeking work, or studying
in order to gain employment. Career Angels is funded by the Australian
Government.
Staying home was his choice
Bill promised his father, John, that he would help him to stay in his home. Although John's health was deteriorating, he didn't want to move out of the home where he had lived for forty years, or to leave his beloved pets and vegetable garden.
However, John needed regular supervision throughout the day, and was needing more and more care as time went on. Bill couldn't provide this as he worked full time and lived about 15 km across town. Bill didn't have any idea where to go or who to speak with, then a friend told him about Best of Care.
Bill rang Best of Care and a lovely Care Co-ordinator came to visit him and his father. She set their minds at ease and explained how easy and convenient the care is. She took great care in matching two male personal carers, as John likes the different mateship with the both of them.
"One comes to Dad's each day to assist him with showering and to
see he has breakfast and then the other pops in again at night to make
sure he is okay," said Bill. "Best of Care is really a lifesaver
for us. This means that Dad is happy and can stay at home and I feel that
I have been able to keep my promise to him without compromising the rest
of my family."
When you have a full plate
Sharon enjoyed her lifestyle: a loving marriage, a new job, art classes, and regular lunches with friends. The children had all moved out of home and she felt that she had some space to herself at last - some free time to do all those things she had wanted to do for years.
Then her father's health deteriorated and he required a great deal of medical support. Sharon and her husband thought it was best for her father to move in with them due to the level of supervision he needed and his anxiety at being home alone. Sharon felt that she would have to give up her art classes, the lunches, and possibly even her new job.
Best of Care provided Sharon with a solution that worked for both her and her father. The friendly staff at Best of Care organised a personal carer to provide assistance with his daily living needs while Sharon was at work and taking her art classes. Best of Care also scheduled regular fortnightly respite which allowed Sharon to catch up with her friends for lunch so that she could have a laugh and rejuvenate.
This combined respite gave Sharon a much needed break and her father enjoyed his new caregiver friends. It gave him the opportunity to reminisce on his life and all the travelling he had done when he was a young man, and the people that he met along the way, with carers who were interested in hearing about his tales.
A little help sometimes means a lot
Mrs Tan and her daughter, Lin, enjoy a healthy lifestyle despite Mrs Tan having Alzheimer's and being less active than she used to be. Mrs Tan always worked hard both at her full-time job and in raising her family of five children. Her and her husband had their own business for many years importing furniture and Asian artifacts.
Mrs Tan now lives alone in her own home surrounded by her familiar furniture with an Asian theme. Mrs Tan finds comfort and joy within her own home that reminds her of loving days with her parents and her husband.
Her daughter Lin lives near by and works part-time. Lin assists her mother whose mobility is amazing, but whose day-to-day living is hampered by short term memory loss. Lin got in touch with Best of Care after seeing an advertisement in a local newspaper.
Lin, through her Best of Care Co-ordinator, planned for a personal carer to visit her mother three times a day while Lin is working. Best of Care were able to match personal carers with a similar cultural background and language as the Tan family, which made things a lot more comfortable for Mrs Tan.
One personal carer assists with the morning routine, including breakfast and some light home duties such as putting the washing on and hanging it out. Another personal carer assists with lunch and returns again in the afternoon to have a chat over a cuppa and to make sure Mrs Tan has something home cooked for dinner.
The visits are reassuring, providing friendship and laughter. Mrs Tan is able to remain home safely and happily. Lin has the satisfaction of both providing happiness for her mother and being able to continue her own career. It is a win-win situation for both of them.