Graeme had always kept pretty good health until the day he collapsed at work. He was taken to North Shore Hospital and told he had pneumonia. A few days later, he received more serious news. He needed surgery to replace a damaged heart valve. Graeme worried that his days of independence and being able to live alone were over..
“I was in hospital for a long time. When I returned home, I couldn’t walk or get around and there were a lot of everyday tasks I couldn’t do. Fortunately, the hospital arranged for Visionwest to look after me at home. They were absolutely brilliant and wonderful people. I couldn’t say anything bad about them.”
Graeme’s recouperation from his surgery went well and he may have made it to where home healthcare was no longer needed if it wasn’t for a nasty accident. One evening, while walking to his car following a quick trip to the shops, he fell into an unmarked hole on the footpath. The result was another three months in hospital repairing a femur that was broken in four places and needed titanium rods to be inserted.
“Before my heart operation and then my accident, life was as good as gold. Despite being past retirement age, I was helping out at work five days a week, going out in my son’s boat, and spending time with my mates at the RSA. Now, I find it difficult to get around and impossible to do some everyday tasks. Two years after the accident, I’m still in a lot of pain.
“I honestly could not have survived without Visionwest. Visionwest has been a lifesaver. After I came back from hospital, I was hardly able to walk, it was wonderful to have Visionwest turn up.”
Graeme laughs as he suggests that his Visionwest Support Workers only come to make sure he’s still alive but quickly points out how comforting it is for him to know that there are people calling regularly, sometimes to complete tasks he can’t do himself (like household chores, shopping or overseeing his medications), sometimes just checking up and watching out for him.
“I feel the difference between Visionwest and other groups, is that Visionwest staff are willing to do all the things you can’t do yourself. They do things that, if they didn’t get done, I’d be unable to stay in my own house. That’s so great.”