Wheels of change: Shirley's empowerment through her Home Care Package
Fresh air, furry friends and four wheels to freedom. How Shirley found a new lease on life at home in New South Wales.
“At first, I didn’t want a scooter as I thought it would make me look old,” 72-year-old Shirley jokes. “But it honestly has changed my life. It’s been the best thing.”
Shirley sometimes takes her husband Leslie for outings in their car, but lately her sore back, caused by a blown disc, has made it too difficult to walk across carparks and around shopping centres.
Shirley’s husband Leslie, 82, lives with dementia and no longer drives. This puts added pressure on Shirley to care for Leslie and take on more of the household chores, including running errands.
For Shirley, life has certainly had its share of tough times, having lost one of her three sons at the age of four in a tragic horse accident.
Another son, Tom, was left a quadriplegic at age 39 after he was punched when trying to stop two teenagers arguing outside a pub in Maitland.
Despite these hardships and the lifelong responsibility of caring for others, Shirley has managed to muster a heart-warming smile, a great sense of humour and a zest for life.
“Regardless of what life’s thrown at us, you can’t take the love out of the story,” Shirley said. “We’re all fighting to give the best we can, and I am trying to do just that. I hope that’s how people will remember me one day.”
Shirley’s integratedliving Case Manager Jo-Anne noticed Shirley’s independence reducing, and partnering with integratedliving Occupational Therapist Alex, organised to purchase a mobility scooter for Shirley, utilising her Level 2 Home Care Package.
“This scooter has given me so much freedom,” Shirley said. “It’s just so easy to hop on and go for an outing. I can have a break from the house. When you’re driving a car, you don’t have the fresh air all around you and you don’t stop to say hello to people in their front yard.
“Out on my scooter, I can talk to people, look at lovely gardens along the way and notice things that I don’t see in a car when I’m driving.”
Adding to Shirley’s newfound freedom, their nine-year-old Maltese dog, Teddy, quickly became a fan of scooter rides. “She goes and sits next to the scooter when she’s ready to go out,” Shirley said. “She loves sticking her head up in the air with her ears flapping in the wind.”
Shirley’s other dog, Bear, needed more convincing. He sometimes sits between Shirley’s feet. Although Shirley and Leslie would like to downsize, their home is set up perfectly for visits from their son Tom, now 52 years old, with wider doorways and ramps for his wheelchair.
The couple lovingly looked after Tom for 10 years at home after the devastating incident. But the physical demands of caring around the clock became too great, and Tom moved into a group care home close by.
“We see Tom regularly and love when he visits us,” Shirley said. “The house is properly set up for wheelchair access which makes it easier when Tom’s here.”
To help with life at home, integratedliving provides domestic assistance, occupational therapy, gardening and meals. Shirley is also considering the additional support she may need in the future. For now, the scooter is perfect.
“I look forward each day to having that special time with Teddy on our scooter rides.”