Believe Housing Australia tenant Michael’s day-to-day life since receiving AnglicareSA’s Aged Care Services now looks markedly different.

“He is happier and feels more confident now that he gets aged care support,” Believe Housing Australia (BHA) Intensive Tenancy Support Officer Christie said.

Christie had been working with Michael as part of BHA’s Intensive Tenancy Support (ITS) program, which aims to intervene early to improve the amenity and conditions of tenants’ properties and assess factors that could be barriers to a tenant accessing support services.

“We discussed with Michael his needs and sought his input on what things he would like to better his life and the help he thinks he needs,” Christie said.

These discussions highlighted how much Michael needed aged care support to build his capacity and self-efficacy, so the ITS team referred him to AnglicareSA’s Aged Care Services.

AnglicareSA Intensive Support Coordinator Christine Maudsley said that over the course of nine months, the two teams worked together to advocate for Michael and ensure his needs were heard and met.

“We advocated for Michael as a priority to be placed on a higher level of the Home Care Package (now Support at Home) based on a high need for care coordination due to pre-existing health conditions and a decline in capacity for daily living,” she said.

The team was disappointed to learn that My Aged Care denied Michael’s initial request to be prioritised for higher-level aged support, and continued to advocate on his behalf.

“We needed to show My Aged Care the urgency of needing support, as Michael had a decline in his health through this process that impacted his life,” Christie said.

“ITS is also a short-term program, so we wanted to make sure Michael had those supports in place long after our program finishes.”

 

Life after receiving support

After a few meetings with My Aged Care, Michael was approved for the highest level of the Home Care Package and chose AnglicareSA to be his aged care provider.

Before receiving support, Michael was nervous about falling at the local shopping centre, which deterred him from grocery shopping and kept him inside his house ordering unhealthy takeaway meals for dinner multiple times a week.

He now receives personal care twice a week, and every fortnight, a personal care worker takes him food shopping and cooks healthy meals with him.

These supports helped Michael feel more confident to live independently and introduce healthy habits and meals into his diet and lifestyle.

Coupled with the support provided by ITS, Michael could move around his house more freely, reducing the risk of falls.

Christie said she could see a big change in him since receiving support.

“It is not just the intake of healthier food, but being able to get out of the house,” she said.

“I have spoken to his sister, who said it was just amazing to see the impact the support has had on Michael, his demeanour and how he speaks.”

 

If you or someone you know needs support accessing the right aged care services and support like Michael, contact AnglicareSA’s Care Finders online via our website or phone on 1800 317 009.