Akash* was given notice the service provider planned to terminate his level 4 Home Care Package. Akash lived with mental health challenges of anxiety, substance use, and experienced falls resulting in regular hospital admissions. He was experiencing memory loss, lived alone and was no longer able to drive. There was also family conflict, with pressure being placed on Akash to enter residential aged care before they felt ready.
The Home Care Check-in services Community Support Advocate (CSA) assisted Akash to request the service provide an extension until a new provider was found, however they refused. Akash was supported to make contact with My Aged Care and phone calls were facilitated to service providers with capacity in the area. Akash independently initiated a meeting with one of the service providers and promptly chose to sign a new contract.
Rights and responsibilities, with a focus on dignity of risk and access to legal aid were explained to him by the CSA. Akash was supported to consider ways to reduce risks such as installing a locked box and registering the code with emergency services, obtaining a falls alert pendant, and support to attend medical appointments.
Akash is now receiving services adequate to their needs, with daily medication prompts and reports no recent falls or hospital admissions. There has been an increase in his ability to function and a decrease in anxiety and substance use and the family have reconnected. Akash has decided to research options to downsize from a family home to a retirement village or serviced unit and will present their choices to his family. Upon conclusion of the service not only were his risk levels decreased risk, but he is also more aware of his age care rights, advocacy, and elder abuse.
*Names and other details are altered to protect identity.
