Jean switched to Envigor when she realised her previous home care provider wasn’t providing her with the individualised services she needed.
Envigor Gold Coast Care Manager Marie said she first met Jean at some social events at her retirement village, when Jean was with another provider.
“The first time I met Jean she said, ‘I’m with another organisation’. She would now and again talk to me… I would pop in to the craft morning and say hello to everyone and I wouldn’t really talk to Jean, I’d give her some space,” says Marie.
“One day out of the blue Jean said, ‘Can you come talk to me’. So I went to her home here in the village and she asked me what we can do. Because of the model here at Envigor our administration fees and case management fees are so much cheaper, I was able to provide her with much more support services and be creative and give her ideas.”
What sparked Jean’s change of heart? Jean says that she decided to make the switch when she realised that her previous company wasn’t giving her any options on how and what care services she received.
“I was with another company before Envigor and they didn’t seem to worry about what I was on, as that was what I was given and that’s what I had to put up with. That’s why I changed.”
Marie says by chatting to Jean, she discovered what was really important to her and what made her happy.
“For Jean, it wasn’t just around domestic assistance, it was the social aspect that was really important to her.”
One of Jean’s regular social outings is going to church each week, which she does with her regular carer Jodie.
“We go to church and we go and see what God has to tell us once a week – what little pearls of wisdom are going to pop out of the priest’s mouth when we go. Then we have a drive home and look at different ways of coming back,” says Jodie.
“We talk about the wildlife shows with David Attenborough and we just talk about life and how we’re all going and how she’s going. Jean is lovely, we have a great time. She’s a very caring lady.”
Marie says that since Jean has moved to Envigor she has valued getting to know Jean as a person and see the positive changes that the added social support has provided.
“She’s a beautiful lady – as I’ve gotten to know Jean and you break away those walls, I’ve seen such a difference in her. She comes to all my coffee mornings and when she comes along to the coffee hour you can see friendships forming with other residents – they all look out for her. For me, that’s what it’s all about”