Jo Booker, Envigor’s Community Business partner in the Sunshine Coast – Noosa region hails all the way from Blackpool in the UK but has found her home and family working for Envigor here in Queensland.
Jo emigrated to Australia in 2012 with her husband and two children and brought with her a wealth of experience in the aged care, government and disability sectors.
“While studying for my degree in the UK, I worked as a carer in a Residential Aged Care facility. On completing my study, I then worked for the UK Government for 20 years helping those with disabilities over 65s make benefit claims to enable to remain independent,” says Jo.
On arriving in Australia, Jo started working as a carer in the community and then moved into scheduling care, before starting work with Envigor in 2016 as a care coordinator at Seasons Caloundra.
“While working as a care coordinator, I gained further qualifications in community services and in February 2018 and became the Community Care Business Partner for Sippy Downs/Noosa.
“I enjoy working for Envigor as it’s a company with the same values which I hold dear to my heart. I share a passion with Envigor to help seniors remain independent in their own home and to help them find solutions to their care worries.”
Taking on the role as Envigor business partner for her area gives Jo satisfaction and a way to bring the company’s values to life for her clients.
“Being the community care business partner allows me to meet people from all walks of life and I take true pleasure in listening to their stories,” says Jo.
“Envigor is a forward thinking, innovative company who are so versatile on all aspects of their care services. They really do pride themselves on looking after their clients and staff alike. I enjoy working for Envigor – it feels like family.”
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According to Jo, the best part of her job is helping her clients achieve their personal goals – whether that’s to remain connected to their community or helping a couple stay together.
While working as a care coordinator, Jo was able to assist Mary and John who had been married for 60 years and were living together at Seasons Caloundra.
“Mary and John did not like to be apart and Mary has dementia. After helping them coordinate services for Mary’s home care package, I noticed that John did not seem his usual chirpy self so while Mary was out shopping with her son I had a chat with John,” says Jo.
“He opened up and admitted that he was beginning to experience carer strain. Mary’s behaviours were changing and she was getting up several times a night. John was exhausted and just did not know what to do. Mary also began to get more frustrated that she could not do things for herself like she used to. Mary could also not be left alone.”
Jo says she then worked with John and his family to find a suitable solution that allowed them to stay living together while having some valuable time apart.
“Bit by bit, Mary attended the day respite centre at Seasons, just an hour or two to start with so that John could go home and catch up on sleep. John was nervous about this as he had not been apart from his wife like this before.
“Now Mary enjoys her time at the centre, has developed trusting relationships with the carers and spends a few hours a day there where John knows she is safe. She spends time doing activities she is fond of such as painting and craft work as well as sing along. Mary goes home to John every day. As Mary now has a higher level of care package, John is able to have a sleepover at his son’s house every week while Envigor carers support Mary overnight.”
Without this support, John feels that Mary would have had to go to a Residential Aged Care Facility which is something he and Mary did not want and they remain living happily together.
“Mary recently has her 90th birthday party and it was wonderful to see how happy and content they both are, surrounded by the love of their family, friends and carers,” says Jo.