I have a client in his mid -80’s who is blind, and lives alone with the support of Anglicare. His wife had dementia and we cared for her until she had to move into care about a year ago. He says ‘I could not live here without your support’. He is still in charge, and running his own home, with our support.
We provide domestic support, shopping, cooking, medication support, help with washing and laundry, managing the home. I organised Vitalcall and also an OT assessment to make changes to make the home easier for him. I'm happy that we are helping him through difficult times.
We generally provide clients like this elderly gentleman with support for anxiety, as elderly vulnerable people face complex challenges in an ever-changing, and fast paced world.
I've always felt really strongly for people suffering hardship. My own background - my parents are migrants from Egypt, and growing up in Australia, we had some hard times. Straight out of school I did a number of things including eight years in HR. Eventually I realised that wasn't me! I really wanted to work in an area where I was caring for other people. So I graduated in social work.
Since then, I've worked in many areas, from Centrelink to hospitals, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (Government- Vocational Rehabilitation), Palliative Care, and before Anglicare, as a Complaints Resolution Officer, for the Department of Human Services, The Aged Care Complaints Scheme.
Over the years I have had lots of personal and industry experience mostly in Aged Care or related services.
I’m a Care Adviser, and my number one priority is our clients. The Care Adviser role means clients have one person they can call on to help them address the wide range of issues and challenges they face. Things like dealing with the government requirements, providing and managing external service providers, getting a personal alarm system put in, having the garden maintained, their dog walked, help with medication, appointments, personal care, exercise...so many things.
It's all about meeting clients’ needs and going that extra mile for them. I enjoy a job well done. If we are delivering our services to the best of our capacity, I'm in a very happy place. The client is always my number one focus. Sometimes you have to think outside the box and work in a creative way. My clients have complex needs and changing circumstances. I have some clients which I am in touch with daily and others I can go for months and not hear much from - but every one of them is important and precious to me. I have a great sense of achievement when we solve a difficult challenge for one of our clients.
Yes. I can honestly say Anglicare is the best employer I've ever had. Anglicare has really proven itself to me in terms of their responsiveness to the client. The name isn't just a name - they do really care. The management team especially is very supportive, they do their very best and they really understand the care adviser role, and the everyday challenges we have.
At the end of the day it's very simple. We're all working as a team to give the client the best possible service. In this role, I am where I should be. I am satisfied and content.
Thanks Marie for sharing your story with us. Some names and details have been changed to protect privacy.
If Marie’s role sounds appealing, why not visit Anglicare’s Careers page for more information on working for Anglicare.
