DUDLEY’S STORY Dudley is 84 and was diagnosed with MND in May 2020. He lives alone in Dalby since his wife passed away two years ago and his nearest family member (his son) lives an hour away. Dudley’s been on a Level One Aged Care Package since he was diagnosed. MND Queensland’s Advisor & Support Coordinator Jason has organised that Dudley has breakfast prepared five mornings per week (Mon to Fri). Dudley also has cleaning once a week and help getting out to the shops once a week, but he needs more support, like help on the weekends and will need even more support as his symptoms progress.
He was assessed in December 2020 for a higher-level Aged Care Package and he’s been told that he’ll probably get a Level Three Package. When we spoke, he was expecting more information to come through within the next 56 days. Even if he is approved for a Level Three Package, he’s been told it could still take 12 months for it to come through!
When we asked Dudley what he’d say to our supporters that make our work possible he said “I’ve got to take my hat off to them. They are very caring and realise that help is needed in the system. I would say a very big ‘thank you’ to them.”
BARBARA’S STORY Barbara was diagnosed with MND in September 2020 at the age of 71. She lives alone in Ipswich. When she applied for an Aged Care Assessment, she had to wait a couple of months just for the assessment to happen. Barbara has now been approved for a Level Four Package, but was told that it could take 12 months for the funding to come through! She wants to stay at home as long as possible, but will need more support in the future to do so as her symptoms progress. Talking about the support she’s had from MND Queensland, Barbara said “With Jason particularly, he was up here in January and I had an interview with him then and he rings me all the time, every couple of weeks to see how I’m going. I wouldn’t have what I have without them! I’ve got a chair through MND Queensland, one of those electric chairs that lifts me up when I have to stand up. They are great! They’ve got more equipment there if I need it which Jason has offered.” When asked about the community support that makes our work with over 65s possible, Barbara responded “I’d like thank them very much for their support, because without that, I don’t know where I’d be! Having people available at MND Queensland that understand the symptoms and disease… that have experience with other clients… without that, I wouldn’t know what to do to be honest! To have the equipment available is so good… Amazing! Any amount that they give will definitely be beneficial to all of the sufferers of MND.
Your kind gift will help provide support and services to people impacted by MND like Dudley and Barbara. Please give now to support Queenslanders with MND. Your donation will make a positive difference.
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