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.
Graeme’s recouperation and accident
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 someone to look after me – it was Visionwest who arrived at the door. They were brilliant, absolutely brilliant. They are wonderful, wonderful people. I couldn’t say anything negative about them. They looked after me. They fed me. I try to do most things myself but when I couldn’t do anything, they did it.
Graeme’s recouperation from his heart surgery went well and he may have made it to a point where home healthcare was no longer needed if it wasn’t for a nasty accident. One evening, while walking back 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 his femur which was broken in four places and had titanium rods inserted to fix it.
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 saw the surgeons last week and they’re going to give me injections to relieve the pain.
Graeme’s independence thanks to Visionwest Home Healthcare
Like many people who have been active and independent, Graeme found it difficult to accept help at first but recognises that, without the support of his Visionwest Support Workers, he could not live in his own home.
I honestly could not have survived without Visionwest. Visionwest has been a lifesaver. Just brilliant. After this happened, and I came back from three months in hospital unable to hardly even walk, it was wonderful to have Visionwest turn up. It’s absolutely marvellous … absolutely brilliant. I have someone help out with household chores, someone to make sure I’ve taken my proper medication, and someone to make sure I’m okay later in the afternoon. I also have someone come and do my shopping because I simply can’t walk around a supermarket anymore. It’s too far; too painful.
Graeme laughs as he suggests that his Visionwest Support Workers only come to make sure he’s still alive but quickly points out that that is a comforting thing for him. To know that there are people calling regularly, sometimes to complete chores he can’t do himself, sometimes just checking up and watching out for him.
I think Visionwest is so good, I’ve told probably 15 of my friends at the RSA about them. My mates are all in their 70s and I tell them, ‘Mate, if you are finding things a little difficult and need help around home, you gotta go with Visionwest.’
I feel like 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.
I know there are people out there who support you with donations. If I met one of those people, I’d sit them down and buy them a drink. I’ll tell you what, I believe Visionwest do wonders. I know for a fact that Visionwest is not the only company that does this service, but Visionwest is number one and I mean that. You’re not paying me to say it, but honestly, I believe it.
Read another inspirational Visionwest Home Healthcare story – Cameron’s Story – A positive outlook and a little support from others.
Each year, Visionwest Home Healthcare’s 1,300 Support Workers care for over 7,000 older adults and people with disabilities. Find out more about Visionwest Home Healthcare.
** We understand that it is a great privilege when someone generously agrees to share their story. This blog and other material are shared with Graeme’s permission, and we thank him for his generosity.