A father’s love knows no limits: The story of Alan and his son Derek

Alan has spent decades caring for his son, Derek, whose life changed dramatically after a brain tumour was removed 20 years ago.

The surgery left Derek with limited mobility, impaired vision and cognitive challenges. While Alan and his wife have been his primary caregivers, they know that one day, Derek will need to stand on his own.

For years, Alan and his family worked through the challenges of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in search for reliable disability support services. Initially, they struggled with an unreliable provider.

“Sometimes support workers don’t arrive on time, or they change the assigned support worker without informing us ahead of time. There were times when they just wouldn’t show up at all, without any explanation given to us,” Alan discloses.

That all changed when their coordinator introduced them to Leora Healthcare (formerly Afea Care Services).

“Once we engaged your services, we were really satisfied, so we continued with Leora until now,” says Alan.

The surgery to remove Derek’s brain tumour left him with complications, including poor vision and half of his body impaired.

“He cannot use his right hand, and his mobility is significantly affected, so he can’t fully look after himself,” Alan shares.

These challenges have not stopped Derek from leading an active and structured life. He works thrice a week, leaving early in the morning and returning in the evening.

Alan ensures Derek has meals prepared before his son heads off. On Tuesdays, a support worker from Leora takes Derek swimming, an activity he enjoys and one that helps with his mobility. Wednesdays are spent shopping and visiting the library.

“In the afternoon, he usually stays at home and watches TV,” Alan adds. “On the weekends, he enjoys socialising with elderly neighbours. He has made friends with many older people in the area, and they often take walks together or visit the park.”

For Alan, the goal is for Derek to live independently.

“In the long term, we are preparing for him to live independently because we are already in our 70s and won’t always be able to care for him,” Alan points out.

“We still need to work on making him more independent, but that will require additional support in the future. So, if he lives independently, he’ll need more NDIS support for daily tasks like getting dressed in the morning, meal preparation and increasing his ability to take care of his own finances.”

For now, the family continues to work with Leora in supporting Derek, knowing that with the right assistance, Derek can have a fulfilling and independent life in the near future.

Alan remains grateful for the support that has made a difference in Derek’s life. From the daily disability care provided by Leora to the kindness of staff and neighbours, he has seen the impact of a strong support network.

“The biggest difference is that the Care Coordinators from Leora genuinely care about the quality of service. They check in regularly and make sure everything is running smoothly. That’s something I really appreciate.”

Leora is committed to providing the highest quality disability and aged care services through personalised support that goes beyond just meeting basic needs. Whether you need a dedicated support worker, reliable in-home assistance or a place to call home, we’re here to help families like Alan’s find long-term solutions.

Looking for a reliable disability support service? If you or your loved ones need compassionate and high-quality support, reach out to Leora today to get started.