Dealing with ongoing pain has become a daily reality for Kay. Her injuries from falls, combined with osteoporosis, have presented many challenges in her life, but things have now changed for the better.
Kay gets support from a government-funded Home Care Package (HCP) through genU Karingal St Laurence and she says it’s helped her to get on with her life.
HCP funding gives Kay access to a gardener, personal support worker, travel to and from medical appointments, and help with household cleaning.
The mother of four can also rely on assistance from her dedicated genU case manager.
“It does make a difference having a case manager who you get to know and trust, who helps you get the services you need to improve your daily life,” Kay says.
Kay has lived a busy life, caring for her daughter who has Prader-Willi syndrome, while also volunteering with disability organisations. Her husband passed away suddenly eight years ago.
“He was always good, he was quite happy to cook a meal or do the dishes, hang the washing out,” Kay said. “Even when I was coming into meetings, he’d do my chores at home so I could do the things I needed to do.”
Kay says accepting that her life had changed and that she needed help was difficult at first.
“But when you get that help, you can then have a bit of a life. It’s all those little things that make a big difference.”
genU co-ordinates HCPs for people in Geelong, Horsham, Ballarat, Colac, Warrnambool and Mornington Peninsula (as well as in Adelaide).
For more information call 1300 558 368, email contact@genu.org.au or visit www.genu.org.au
