Around 10 years ago, 73-year-old Vic experienced a major stroke. 

Vic shares, “I have had 5 strokes. A little one many years ago, and around 10 years ago was a big one. I can talk and think, but I can’t walk very well.”

After Vic, who lives alone, returned from the hospital, he had to figure out how to do everyday things. 

“At first, I didn’t know what to do. But I started by redoing my bathroom, and I did it my way, not the ‘right’ way,” he says.

A few years ago, Vic had an ACAT assessment to improve his bathroom. “It was great. I got a shower chair, a bidet, and a bath.”

“I also had lots of people come and see me, dieticians and exercise therapists.”

Finding support on Mable

For the last 7 years or so, Vic had been a client with a traditional provider. But he wasn’t happy with the way things were.

“People moved, the management moved, and they didn’t talk to me. They took me for granted,” Vic recalls.

Vic discovered Mable ‘by accident’. “One day, someone asked me ‘Have you heard of Mable?’ I looked it up on the internet.”

He adds, “I spoke to someone really nice on the Mable team. She was wonderful to me. She walked me through everything and made it easy. I had problems moving from the earlier provider and she sorted it all out for me.”

“It was so easy to deal with the paperwork with Mable. I was happy with that.”

Vic accesses support through his Home Care Package funding. He self-manages his package through HomeMade. 

He says, “We got it because it’s so much easier. With my previous provider, although I had enough budget and they agreed to buy me what I needed, it took a year for the thing to arrive.” 

“With HomeMade, I speak to them, they say yes. I order it and it arrives the next day!”

Building a support team on Mable

Being dependent on one support worker is never a good idea. People may fall sick or may want to take time off. 

Vic was faced with a similar situation, and that’s how he decided to book an additional support worker in Wendy’s absence.

He says, “Wendy had to go away to the Philippines. She said she had a friend and offered to introduce me to her. She said her friend could look after me while Wendy was away.” 

That’s how Wendy’s friend, Jamela, became part of Vic’s support team on Mable.

Both Wendy and Jamela are nurses and provide personal care and domestic assistance to Vic. 

He explains, “They shower me every day. They do my washing and clean my flat. They also examine me and advise me to see my doctor if needed. My doctor thinks they’re wonderful.”

Vic has now been a Mable client for almost 10 months and is really happy with his support team.

“They understand me. They do what needs to be done. It makes me feel fine, normal,” he says.

For those who support stroke survivors

Vic’s advice to support workers who are working with stroke survivors is simple: Stick to the routine.  He explains, “If a support worker says they will be there at 3 o’clock, be there at 3 o’clock. If they don’t, I get nervous, thinking something’s gone wrong.”

“If there’s a routine, stick to the routine. If they don’t, I get very confused. The routine is very important.”