Celebrating together
A couple has been able to stay together after moving into residential care despite their differing care requirements in time to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Also celebrating, is aged care provider Blue Care, which turns 60 this year.
Above: John and Phyllis Hodges, who last week celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a lunch with family and friends at the Amana Living facility where they both live.
By Natasha Egan
A couple has celebrated 70 years of marriage at their home in a residential aged care facility in Perth, which facilitates them living together, despite their differing care needs.
Phyllis Hodges cared for husband John, who is living with dementia, at their home until a car accident put her in hospital for three months and forced him into residential care.
After her recovery, a low care place was found for Mrs Hodges at the same facility as her husband, at Amana Living Lesmurdie.
The collocation meant Mrs and Mr Hodges celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last Wednesday with family and friends in their new home.
“John and Phyllis were so delighted to be back together, it was wonderful to witness,” said Amana Living Care Manager Lee Smith.
“They are now living happily together in the facility, and we are looking into moving them to adjoining rooms so that they have their own ‘unit’.”
Amana Living offers both residential care and retirement living units on many of its sites, plus home care supports that allow couples to be accommodated at the same location, regardless of their care needs, said CEO Ray Glickman.
“Amana Living takes the needs of couples seriously, and whenever possible, we will help them to stay together in their own home or accommodate them at the same residential site,” Mr Glickman said.
“Phyllis’s son was keen for her to be admitted to Amana Living’s Lesmurdie facility to be close to her husband after the emotional trauma of the car accident.”
“Her current care needs are few, but emotionally she is benefiting from being with her husband,” he said.
Alzheimer’s Australia WA CEO Rhonda Parker said relationships continued to be very important for the person with dementia and their carer.
“It is important there is flexibility in long-term care options so couples who choose to continue living together have that option,” she said.
Blue Care turns 60
Elsewhere in anniversaries, community and residential care provider Blue Care is planning 60 events throughout the year in Queensland and northern New South Wales communities in celebration of 60 years service.
Blue Care assists 60,000 people each year and has played an integral role in keeping families and communities together, said Robyn Batten, executive director of the not-for-profit organisation.
Blue Care’s work and the difference it has made to more than 80 communities across Queensland and northern New South Wales in the past 60 years will be acknowledged and celebrated this year,” Ms Batten said.
“Each day Blue Care’s dedicated team makes a difference, supporting people to maintain their independence and quality of life.”
Blue Care began 60 years ago with one nurse and has grown to include 10,600 staff and volunteers across a wide range of care and support roles, Ms Batten said.
Starting as an outreach initiative of the Methodist Mission congregations at West End in inner Brisbane, the Blue Nursing Service, as it was formerly known, began on August 24 in 1953 when Sister Olive Crombie travelled by tram to treat a patient.
In 1999 the organisation changed its name changed to Blue Care to reflect the diversity of services the provider now offers in homes, communities, residential aged care facilities and retirement villages.
“Staff once travelled on foot, by tram or by catching a lift with volunteers and today we have the second-largest vehicle fleet in Australia of 1500 vehicles, which travel more than 31 million kilometres a year,” Ms Batten said.
“We look forward to our continued role assisting Australians with service and accommodation choices which are tailor made to people’s individual needs and flexible as their circumstances change.”
The official anniversary is August 24, 2013, but starting next month, Blue Care’s centres and services will host 60 private and public events for clients, residents, staff, friends, stakeholders and community members.
See Blue Care’s website and Facebook page for details throughout the year.
Regrettably not all residential aged care services do recognise an obligation to couples. There have been instances of refusing to admit spouses of many decades’ standing due to ‘inadequate ACFI funding’ for one of the partners. I wonder how the service managers sleep at night?
One of the best solutions that allow couples in Aged Care to remain together is to seek a village with Supported Residential Services (SRS). There are enormous advantages with some villages offering much more living space and lifestyle choices with the added benefit of on-site, 24 hour care and medical services (just like a nursing home) but with a spacious apartment, more privacy and more choices available. It’s just an easier way to transition into aged care where couples can stay together from day 1 without waiting.
Google “supported living”, there are some places around the country that provide accommodation (apartments/units) for couples that include 24 hour on-site care and medical services – problem solved!