Sheridan:
I think especially in the last couple of years, mom's become my hero. I dunno that I would've said that in the past. Not in a bad way, but just probably wouldn't have considered it to watch a woman who, like she said, you're going into age care, your life has changed. And most people would view that as the end. That's the end of the road. But she didn't.
Speaker 2:
Alright.
Grace:
Yeah, it's really, really good. I hope there's going to be a bit of comedy in it, but
Sheridan:
You never know. I'm looking for a new Netflix
Grace:
Series. Do you think it's a good one to watch? Yeah, it's a good one to watch. Okay.
Sheridan:
Is there a few in the series? One day, Artie, pat says to me, I'm a bit worried about your mum. And I said, why is that? And she said, I think she might be losing her mind. I said, what makes you say that? She said, well, when I was talking to her the other day, she said to me, sorry, I've got to go. I've got to go to work. I said, oh, okay. And she said, oh, I don't think she knows where she is. My auntie is fully convinced that mom is so confused that mom thinks that she's going to work when she doesn't. She lives in an aged care facility. And I said, auntie Pat, I can put your mind at ease. Mom actually is going to work. She works there. She has a job at the front desk. And she's like, oh my God. Thank God she was so relieved. She thought she'd lost the plot.
Mark:
We all worked together. We work at St. Vincent's Heath Coat, and Gracie here, he's one of our wonderful volunteers at the front desk
Grace:
From the time I wake up of the morning to when I have breakfast and the people around me, even there is just to crack up every morning. Sister
Sheridan:
Lorna.
Grace:
It's Sister Lorna. Sister
Mark:
Lorna.
Grace:
And you wouldn't think she was a sister. And she comes out for breakfast and it's just hilarious. And another lady there, she's just come into aged care and she's not sure how to take horses still Lorna. It's really funny. It really is funny. Yeah. So it's a joy to get up. We can't wait to get into breakfast to find out who's got what to say.
Sheridan:
Yes, please. I'll have some milk. Yeah. When she first entered, she wouldn't leave her room. She didn't want to participate in activities. She wouldn't even eat in the dining room. And very slowly she was eating in the dining room, which was a great little step. And then it was, she made a friend. I was like, oh, that's good. And then the next thing was all of a sudden I'd go and visit her. I said, I'm across the road. So I'd go over just a rant whenever, when I felt like it all the time and knock on the door and mom's not in her room. And you'd go wandering around and you'd be like, oh, mom's at an activity. Oh, mom's at another activity. Oh, mom's at another activity. Oh, okay, this is good. And she's apologizing. She's saying, oh, I'm sorry I wasn't here when you came over. I'm like, don't apologize, this is amazing. I am stoked. It's fine. Or it'd be like, oh, I was with Frank, I was with Pat, I was with, and it happened this very slow and then it picked up momentum and then it just was overnight. And then I get a phone call saying I've just been offered a job. And like I said, it just went from zero to a hundred. What seemed like overnight it wasn't, but it did happen very, very quickly. Just
Grace:
The welcoming aspect of being a resident and being able to work at the front desk. I've got the best of both worlds.
Sheridan:
I think with the encouragement from myself and my brother, but also from the staff at St. Vincent's, that's what brought her out of her shell. Metaphorically and physically.
Grace:
Now they can't get rid of me.
Carol:
The lifestyle girls that Mark's got are absolutely fantastic. They really are. We have lots of activities. You can't be bored. I don't have time to do something. Sometimes
Mark:
I think it's key to come in with an open mind, be in control, ask the questions, know what community are going to be joining, but sort of come to the realization that it's just a different stage of your life. You can still have a lot of joy, still have a lot of connections, a lot of friendships, and you can still live a very full life in a residential aged care home. But it's what you make of it. And that's been Carol's success, is that she is really taken her life and she is run with it. She hasn't let anything slow her down,
Carol:
Get involved, ask questions, just ask. Don't be frightened to ask. Everybody's willing to help.
Mark:
I think the secret of success is like anything. I have recollections starting school. It's a new environment, it's a new experience. You just got to pull yourself out there and soon you'll find out that something that you feared can give you incredible joy. I believe this is HK is no different. You can fear it because you don't know about it. And you have perceptions that in the past have been quite negative. But it's not the end of your life. It's the beginning of something quite nice. Like Carol said, many people at home struggled at home, but when they come to aged care, they thrive because they don't have to look after the little things that were becoming impediments, like cleaning the house or doing your laundry or cooking. You just, that's a plus.
Margaret:
In September last year, mum had an episode and she did spend a little bit of time in hospital and then she came back. So the level of care that she has required since then has escalated and it's been met on every possible level.
Brian:
Responded
Margaret:
Accordingly that you could imagine. And for that, I think the manager and the staff have been superb. Couldn't fault them. They've been wonderful.
Brian:
I think under the circumstances it's been a good journey for mum overall. Yes, we've had, there's some ups and downs, but it's never been a real drama. And there have been, mom has had some health episodes where they've had to actually send mom off to hospital and that comes with, oh, off to hospital through emergency. Again, that's a challenge for us. But overall, St. Vincent's is doing the right thing because they're actually acknowledging that this is more serious than they can deal with. So they need to send mom and then she's welcome back as soon as possible and settles back in and they continue on with the care. So particularly now, I think she's definitely in the right surroundings with the right level of care.
Mark:
Hey Carol.
Carol:
Hello, mark. What are you doing
Mark:
Here? I thought I'd just pop in and bring you a little surprise.
Carol:
It's been a very, very good education. It's an education that I'm proud of myself, of how I've adapted. I really am. I'm very proud of myself and it's all to do with Mark and the care that I'm getting that's made me that way. Now what's a surprise? I've got Mark
Mark:
From the garden.
Carol:
You're cracking the whip. Mark. Are you cracking? Whip? Yeah. Yeah. Mark is a wonderful man. And you are Mark. Oh, thank
Mark:
You.
Carol:
Yeah, we are so lucky to have someone like Mark.
Sheridan:
I think the best and most valuable thing the families can do is be honest and they need to be honest and they need to communicate honestly about their emotions, good and bad. From both sides, from my side, from her side, we made a rule where we have an open dialogue where mom can tell me anything and vice versa. And there's no judgment. It's a safe place to discuss. So if she's unhappy, I need to know I want to her and vice versa. So really communication is key and just absolute honesty. And you need to, if you can't be really honest with your own family, there's no point if she's going to be, like she said in the beginning, she was quite stoic. If she is going to put up a front and a facade and not let me, or let anyone else really in it's not going to work, she's going to be unhappy and I'm going to be unhappy, then I'm going to be worrying. I'm not stupid. I could see straight through it. So yeah, really had to have this open forum.
Speaker 8:
Trust me,
Mark:
Successful transition begins with a simple step of being honest, being respectful and involving your family. And I think it's involving as many of the family for everyone to be comfortable with the transition, but not forgetting that the person coming in has to be central to any decision that is made about them. So it's a decision about them with them that's.
.jpg)
.jpg)