Barbara Buchanan (87) and Margaret Bullock (89) celebrating their birthdays at Communify
Healthy@home clients share their diverse life stories
TWO sisters separated by distance were faced with the prospect of never being able to spend time together as dementia slowly robbed them of their independence. Barbara Buchanan, 87, lives in a granny flat at her daughter’s property near Samford, while her sister Margaret Bullock, 89, lives with her family on acreage at Fig Tree Pocket some 35km away.
The sisters grew up in Brisbane and always kept in touch as they moved on with life, married and had their own families. But with both living on acreage, distance became a problem as they aged.
Both had respite available close to home, but this did not cross boundaries to a central point where they could have meaningful time together. Even as the fog of dementia descended, they still knew each other.
“A couple of years ago I could drop mum off at Aunty Margaret’s and they would have a few hours together, but it got to the point that they couldn’t be left alone,” Barbara’s daughter Liz Buchanan says.
“We needed a respite centre that would enable them to have quality time together but at the same time have care so they would be safe.”
The trouble was that the sisters’ acreage locations didn’t tick the right boxes and dictated that they had to stay within their own local areas.
Their families despaired as there was a real risk that they wouldn’t have a chance to socialise regularly with each other because of the distance.
Liz and her cousin set to work to see what they could do. They discovered that through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, respite centres can negotiate to keep families together even if they live in different areas.
The problem was finding one willing to do this. Enter Communify.
“The Communify staff were just fantastic and very understanding,” Liz says. “Fig Tree Pocket is only just outside the Paddington area and because our family could help with transport, we were able to work it out. We found the human factor amid the red tape.”
The process took several months, but Barbara and Margaret have now been meeting up at Communify’s Paddington Respite Centre 10.00am-1.30pm twice a week since March last year and that will soon become three times a week.
Both Barbara and Marg have dementia at different stages, but after a lifetime of contact, they recognise each other and love spending time together.
For family caring for the sisters, it gives peace of mind and time out when they don’t have to worry.
“But most of all it’s important for them to be able to see each other and have respite together,” Liz says. “We are very grateful to Communify for enabling that to happen. The activities and exercises are also beneficial mentally and physically. It’s the highlight of their week.”
As well as time together, they are getting out of the house and socialising with other people, which means they can have a quality life while living at home, something their families hope will continue for a long time.
“It’s great for our families too. We could see the difference as soon as they started at Communify. They have both benefited from the interaction with each other and with others in a similar position,” Liz says.
“Mum was always saying that she was lonely, but I haven’t heard her say that since she started at Communify,” Liz says. “She may not remember being there, but it has removed the element of loneliness. The important part is that they are together.”
The Aged Care Diversity Framework
The Aged Care Diversity Framework aims to ensure a high quality aged care system that embraces the diverse characteristics and life experiences of consumers. Older people with diverse needs. characteristics and life experiences may be part of a group or multiple groups that may have encountered exclusion, discrimination and stigma during their lives.
The above article is part of a series that tells the real life stories of healthy@home clients. It has has been approved for publishing by the service provider and client.