Juniper Home Care customer Monica Flint is a natural optimist. The retired prison guard has been receiving domestic cleaning and occupational therapy support with Juniper since November last year, working with occupational therapist Ariya Pinnagoda, who she says has been “an absolute godsend” to find practical ways to stay safe and independent in her own home.
It’s a tilting kettle, of all things, that Monica credits as her favourite discovery so far.
For Monica, everyday life had been getting quietly harder, having mobility issues as well as arthritis in her hands, before reaching out for support. “Spending a lot of time standing and being upright for a long time was difficult, so I had to do vacuuming one day and mopping the next,” Monica said. She already had a few products designed to make living a little easier such as a shower chair and rail at home, but she knew there had to be more out there to make her life a little easier.
Ariya came out for an initial assessment, to get a picture of what day to day life actually looked like for Monica. “She asked what sort of things I was able to do around the house, what duties were difficult, and she knew that I had issues with arthritis, and that’s when she recommended the tilting kettle,” she said
“What I really liked was the fact that she brought up pictures on her computer and showed me the different products I could potentially use. She asked if I thought I would be able to use them, she showed me what the different items looked like and offered options.” By the end of the assessment, Monica felt like she was on the same page as Ariya and understood what her goals were.
“She absolutely understood what I needed,” Monica added. “She was so helpful and easy to talk to, she came across as very compassionate and understanding. I just couldn’t say thank you enough.”
A tilting kettle, a carport ramp, and a vegetable knife that quickly became a daily staple all followed, sooner than Monica had expected. “I received all of those services within four or five weeks, so I was really happy with how quickly everything came about. The products she has given me so far are so helpful”
Her favourite product is one she uses every morning and has even convinced a friend to buy. “The kettle is just the best thing I’ve ever ordered, it helps me with my daily coffee,” she said. “It’s amazing, so much so that my friend who gets domestic assistance, who is now with Juniper, has just had an assessment with Ariya about three weeks ago, because I said to her it’s brilliant. You just put the cup there and it pours itself. It’s great!”
Monica has enjoyed living on her own independently for a long time and is clear about what that means to her. “It gives you a sense of self-worth, the fact that you aren’t relying on family members,” she said. “I can go out when I want, or if I want to stay home all day, I can.”
When Monica isn’t catching up with friends, she’s planning her next trip. “I go to Bali or Phuket once a year, last year I went to Europe,” she said. “I don’t have any grandkids so I’m spending all my super travelling.”
It’s all part of the independent life Monica has built for herself, and Juniper Home Care, she says, helps her keep it that way. “It just makes you feel like you’re still doing okay and managing, when you don’t feel like you need to be put in a nursing home with 24/7 care. You’re getting a little bit of help, but you’re still doing okay.”
“I don’t necessarily like asking friends or family for help, but because it’s an independent service, I like that I’m getting external support that I am paying for.”
Monica however understands why some people resist making the call. “Sometimes people feel like they can’t ask for help, because that means they’re not coping, but it doesn’t mean that at all,” she said.
“They feel like they are letting go of their independence by asking for help. But it’s more of a progression, if there is help out there, why not?”
She’s even trying to convince her sister to see what her options are.
When asked what she would like other people in a similar situation to know she said, “Register with My Aged Care. You don’t need to wait until retirement age, you can register at any age. Don’t wait until you are incapacitated, don’t wait until your body or your mind lets you down. Register and make enquiries, find out what care you can receive. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Reflecting on the experience overall, Monica said what struck her most was how consistent everything had been from start to finish. “It surprised me was how seamless the process was,” she said.
“Ariya was so professional and it didn’t feel rushed, everything they said would happen, happened. It’s just even the small things, like products coming on time and people calling before the delivery comes to make sure I’m home.”
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