After complications with circulation in his left leg resulted in a below-the-knee amputation, Geoff faced the challenge of rehabilitation and adapting to a life-altering experience.

Today however, eight months on from “being measured up for a box at one point”, Geoff is back to being active in the community thanks to the support of AnglicareSA’s Transition Care Program and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Transition Care Program is a 12-week in-home restorative care program delivered at a slower pace than rehabilitation in a hospital and based on goals set by the customer.

AnglicareSA employees interpret those goals into therapy with physical and other supports like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, allied health assistants, nursing, and care workers to help customers with exercises and recovery in the home.

“I had my care coordinator Lydia, who kept her finger on all aspects I needed in my recovery,” Geoff said.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital had already reorganised the structure in my house through their occupational therapist, plus we already had grab rails for my late wife, who needed them in her later years.

“I did physiotherapy with Carla, while Elham came and made sure I went through all the exercises that I was supposed to do to keep my flexibility and strength.

“And then Alice organised the shower chair for me, so it was all about keeping tabs on me and making sure I had what I needed.”

After such a life-changing medical emergency, Geoff is adapting to using his wheelchair as well as a prosthetic leg to ensure he enjoys daily activities like socialising with friends, simply doing the shopping, and is even considering joining the Adelaide Male Voice Choir.

“Once we finish chatting today, I am going to go put the leg on and go out and get myself some lunch, because that’s what I had planned for this week,” he said.

“I was a pharmacist by occupation, so I was always walking around, and I played sport. The fact that I can no longer do those things has taken me a while to get used to, but you can’t change it – so I just do what I can do given the circumstances.”

With care and support offered in collaboration between AnglicareSA and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Geoff was full of praise for those who had worked with him in his recovery and rehabilitation.

That support, he said, was crucial.

“That’s the main thing, the fact that you’re not just dumped by yourself.

“Many people would go home to a partner, but of course, I’d already looked after my wife for eight and a half years, and then the year she died, I lost my leg.

“Lots of things change and it is a bit of an adjustment, but I reckon I was pretty well looked after.

“The hospital’s input and the fact that they coordinated with AnglicareSA and vice versa was encouraging.”

Clinical Coordinator Lydia deCaux said working in partnership with Geoff was a pleasure.

“I found him to be very motivated in his recovery, and he always tackled new challenges with a positive mindset,” Lydia said.

“He was always proud to share what he had been working on – whether it was his new technique to manage watering/fertilising the pot-plants from his wheelchair, working with his grand-daughter to set-up and understand ordering an Uber, or that he had managed his car transfers with the physiotherapist and had even gone up into the hills for a scenic drive.

“It was rewarding to see his progress during the program and an honour to listen to his journey and be involved in his successful transition back home.”