My elderly Mum had always been very independent. She and my Dad were Grey Nomads enjoying camping trips in their small caravan, travelling north of the state in winter. And they both liked going for walks and entertaining friends. They were never what one would call well-off but never complained, really appreciating their little home and the pension that they received from the government. When my father died very suddenly,  Mum was devastated. My sister and I tried to help her but nothing seemed to lift her out of her sadness. She started talking about moving into an aged care facility, something she had always said she would not want to do. She was alone and felt isolated. She had never driven and so was stuck at home, and relied on one of us to take her shopping. Then a neighbour asked her if she would like to go to the Southcare’s New Horizons Day Centre with her. Things have not looked back since. The bus picks them up and takes them home,  and besides the day at the centre, where they have a good lunch and enjoy a variety of activities, they also occasionally go on outings into the country.

 

That was five years ago and as you know, Mum is now on a Government package and has one of the wonderful Southcare carers call on her at home, helping with food preparation, daily showering and medicine supervision. At 86,  she still attends the day centre every week. She also speaks very highly of the wonderful Southcare volunteer drivers who take her to appointments. She is always telling everyone how Southcare “saved her life” at a time when she was very low. I am writing on behalf of my Mum and our family to thank you.

 

If you know of an aged person or couple living in the City of South Perth and surrounding areas, who could benefit from having a support network, give Southcare a call on :

Phone: 9450 6233 or email: enquiries@southcare.org.au.