Dheepa Balan’s engaging smile has been greeting many Envigor clients in the Moreton Bay region for the past 18 months. We find out more about Dheepa’s role as a lifestyle support assistant and how she is supporting those living in their home.
Dheepa’s role is an essential one for those needing some support to live in their own home.
“I go to client’s houses and do their personal care, giving social support and med prompts,” says Dheepa.
Each home visit differs, depending on the time of day and the client’s personal care plan so Dheepa talks us through a typical visit with one of her regular clients Sylvia Jordan.
“The first thing I’ll do when I come in is I will give medicines to Syl at around 8am and then I assist her with a shower and put on moisturising cream. If she needs any make up I’ll put that on. Then I’ll make her sit in a chair and I’ll take her blood pressure every day after her shower. We’ll then have a chat about what we’ve seen on TV or about the neighbour, friends or her family.
“Then when I come in the evening, we do her evening medicines and we’ll watch Escape to the Country and we watch serials like Father Brown and Midsomer Murders!
“That’s not hard work for me, I love doing that!”
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Sylvia, 90, also enjoys her daily visits and time spent with Dheepa.
“I think it’s magnificent, I look forward to Dheepa coming in and we have a chat and she is really like a friend to me. I appreciate everything that’s done for me. I realise how lucky I am to have such great care coming to me.”
Sylvia isn’t the only client who enjoys getting a visit from Dheepa. Cindy Jordan, Envigor Moreton Bay’s Community Care Business Partner, says that she enjoys working with Dheepa and the client feedback has been great.
“Dheepa is fabulous. All my clients have said they want to keep her in their home forever –they just think she’s wonderful,” says Cindy.
“She is very caring and always has the clients’ needs in mind, so if there are ever any concerns she will ring me straight away. That’s great as we can address that need and sort out any issues that may arise.”