AUDREY Hall admits she can no longer chase cattle, but at 88 she’s still in her happy place at home on her Leongatha North farm.
Audrey has been able to continue living at home 10 kilometres north of Leongatha thanks to family support and Gippsland Southern Health Service (GSHS) home care support packages.
The Hall family has had a long association with GSHS, with her late husband Malcolm also receiving home care support for many years.
“It has been a long association, and it was more extensive for my husband,” Audrey said.
Before his death two years ago, Malcolm had battled a long illness and Audrey was his full-time carer.
“Without the support of the hospital, I couldn’t have managed,” she said.
“They were providing people to attend to his medical needs and we also had District Nursing and they provided meals from a number of sources and cleaning around the house.
“His medical condition was extensive and it was a 24-hour-a-day situation. It was also very helpful for me to have the support coming in.”
Thanks to this support, Malcolm was able to live at home until the final few months of his life.
Now Audrey is directly receiving support from the GSHS home care packages, including assistance with showering, dressing and cleaning.
This support is helping her to stay on the family beef farm.
“I’m in my late 80s and live on the farm and still drive,” she said.
“I can’t chase cattle like I used to but there’s not a lot I can’t do.”
She has now leased the land to her daughter and her family but continues to live on the farm.
“I absolutely love it,” she said.
“Many people have said are you going to see and come into the town but I always say no. I like the isolation but having said that I have people coming every few days so it’s a perfect life for me.”
Audrey keeps busy and fit by working in the garden.
“That’s my happy place,” she said.
“I’m very active and love being outside.”
Her son Russell spends part of the time with Audrey and helps to coordinate the hospital visiting care, and Audrey says she wouldn’t cope without it.
“I really appreciate the service. Without the help from Gippsland Southern Health, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.”
Audrey is one of 100 South Gippsland residents enjoying the benefits of living at home thanks to care packages provided by Gippsland Southern Health Service.
GSHS has been providing packages to the local area since 2017.
Home care package coordinator Jo Trewin said GSHS’s current services include homecare, personal care, respite, shopping and transport to appointments across South Gippsland for the 100 clients.
GSHS also uses a number of local contractors for services such as gardening, homecare, and minor home maintenance.
The GSHS home care package team consists of four case managers and one coordinator along with a community access team which coordinate services for both home care packages and NDIS clients.
