Page 7 - Just Better Care Possible Magazine - Issue 4

people playing them for him. Taylor is a romantic at heart, and enjoys listening to and singing along to love ballads,” Jo said.
After a period away, Jo and Taylor recently returned to living in Rosedale with Jo’s mother. Anxiety has had a significant effect on Taylor’s health; Jo hopes by returning home to a place he once loved will assist in alleviating these anxieties, allowing him to enjoy each day rather than fearing them. Returning to Rosedale has also led to more time enjoyed with family, and access to a new support system.
Jo recently approached Just Better Care Gippsland, based in Rosedale, to manage and provide Taylor’s support. She will continue to manage Taylor’s National Disability Insurance Scheme funding, but
the extra support will enable her to focus on spending quality time with her son.
“Taylor has just celebrated his 25th birthday. Most children diagnosed with Juvenile Batten disease don’t often experience the lifespan that Taylor has,” said Melissa Bastian, owner of Just Better Care Gippsland.
“Since moving back to the area, at Jo’s suggestion, we arranged for one of Taylor’s Community Support Professionals from Melbourne to join us. He initially conducted extensive shadowing with the new team
to ensure Taylor received the right care and he is also working weekends. Jo is an amazing mum who makes every effort to give him the best life possible.”
Aiding independence
Continue living at home with a little support.
With the right support, people can remain living healthy and happy at home at any age. Accessing support
at home doesn’t mean someone isn’t capable of looking after themselves; sometimes it simply means they could use an extra set of hands a couple times each week to help lighten the load.
In-home support services are many and varied, from assistance with meal planning and shopping, to dementia support and respite for carers, as well as companionship for social events and travel planning.
Travel planning came in handy for Northern Beaches-based couple Paul and Deb when they decided to explore the sunny Gold Coast last year. Paul and Deb have cerebral palsy, which means they require assistance from Community Support Professionals for everyday tasks.
They added travel planning to their support plans, and enjoyed every minute of their Queensland getaway, which included an up close encounter with a Californian Sea Lion.
Just Better Care’s franchise model also meant Paul and Deb were supported every step of the way, with Community Support Professionals from the Gold Coast office taking over their support upon landing.
Paul’s regular support team at Just Better Care Northern Beaches coordinated the trip with the Gold Coast franchise and assisted with all booking arrangements to ensure a seamless holiday, filled with amazing memories.
Being independent doesn’t mean making it work on your own. You can still be independent and enjoy the life you want, with a bit of outside help.
Accessing support at home doesn’t mean someone isn’t capable of looking after themselves.
To find out more about the services we offer to support people to live independently,
go to justbettercare.com/services
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