The tears flowed when Pamela East opened the door of her new accommodation. Delivered by Wesley Mission Queensland, Dovetree is a new approach to high care housing, allowing residents to choose how they want to live their lives while receiving age-appropriate care.
At 64 years old, Pam is overwhelmed by what she has been able to achieve, attributing her success to NDIS funding and the instrumental support workers she has been able to engage, who are specialists in their field.
Pam has a rare condition impacting her day-to-day functions, and hopes to continue to improve her functional capacity through continuity of supports.
For two years, Pam lived in Sinnamon Village, an aged care facility, where residents were much older than her.
“I found living at Sinnamon Village traumatic and difficult,” she said. “I struggled mentally with the impact of forging friendships with elderly neighbours and then losing them to illness and old age.
“It was stressful. I just wanted to move to somewhere more age-appropriate,” she said.
In January 2019, Pam engaged Focal Community Services Support Coordinator, Patty Hitchenor. Working closely with Patty, and Pam’s NDIS planner, Monica, they discussed Pam’s new NDIS plan and her goals.
“I said to Monica and Patty, my ultimate goal is to move out of Sinnamon Village and find more age-appropriate accommodation; then we discussed the possibility of Dovetree,” Pam said.
Pam’s husband Neville, helped coordinate the move and on April 10 2019, Pam transitioned to Dovetree.
“It’s just been great,” she said in tears. “I want to thank all involved for helping me transition. It’s been a massive achievement and I look forward to enjoying a more independent and fulfilling life.”
