The role of a carer is one of great compassion and generosity.
Nicole’s dad Frederick has joined MePACS so that both of them can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a 24/7 monitored personal alarm.
As his primary carer, Nicole felt that they needed a safety net for when she can’t physically be with him. “I still work and care for my own son and mother in aged care residence,” she says.
Originally, Nicole purchased a non-monitored alarm for her parents. ‘It’s the type that phones family or a friend in emergency,” explains Nicole.
Since her dad has been alone, the alarm has sat in the box untouched. Nicole said that Frederick was fully cognitive and uses a mobile phone and a computer, so he was just not interested in using a personal alarm. It wasn’t until after Frederick was hospitalised that made the family realise that he has now progressed past a non-monitored personal alarm.
It was important to Nicolle and the family that her dad felt comfortable, safe, and independent in his own home, and their best option was a fully monitored alarm with a reliable emergency response service.
“A monitored personal alarm with real people, who are trained and can quickly assess the situation and determine what help is needed is the way to go. We have confidence in MePACS and are grateful they can support dad in his wishes – he wants to stay at home as long as possible,” Said Nicolle
“The MePACS service is answering all of our needs. Dad decided himself that he needed an extra layer of support if he fell and couldn’t reach his mobile or home phone. He also knew that MePACS would help him maintain his independence as much as he can, while his needs and mobility change over time.”
Nicole says her dad makes sure to press his ‘daily call’ button every day to check-in with the emergency response team, especially after he recently experienced a fall at home.
“We were especially grateful for MePACS when dad fell in the bathroom. He slipped when transferring from his wheelchair and could not get up. Because he was wearing his MePACS pendant on his wrist, he pressed the button immediately and let them know that he was okay and there was no pain, but that he needed someone to help him back up.”
“We had an ambulance come just in case to assess dad for injury and by the time they gave him the all-clear, our afternoon carer arrived. Dad was so thankful to constantly have people around him who were professional and cared about his comfort and safety.”
Nicole says that she is grateful that her dad did the right thing and immediately pressed the button after he fell. She was also relieved that help arrived quickly and that her dad was well looked after throughout the incident. The outcome could have been much worse had her dad not worn the alarm because he may have not been able to call for help so quickly.
Nicole, who has experience in aged care and now palliative care, explains that some people forget to wear their alarms and if something happens, they are unable to get to their alarm in time which can add to their injury or delay their healing.
“I cannot stress enough that a personal alarm should be worn as much as possible – if it’s not on you, then you’re not using it to its full potential,” warns Nicole.
As an experienced End-Of-Life Doula supporting individuals and families faced with terminal illness, Nicole understands the need to balance the person’s independence and safety with genuine care and compassion.
“My non-medical role is to support and accompany people dying at home or within medicalised systems as a subset of the palliative care model. For me, it’s navigating help for people to live well while dying and offer compassionate human-centred care, in alignment with what they want, need and value. My practical and personal experiences help people know their options, plan, make personalised choices and feel like someone has their back,” Says Nicole.
“Client-centred care is essential. We both know the human touch really makes a difference and MePACS has become like a second carer for dad. It’s another line of safety and helps take the worry out of what might happen if there was no one that dad could call on when he needs medical assistance.”
Nicole says MePACS is a great service to include in a home care package and highly recommends it to anyone who is seeking safety and peace of mind for a loved one and their family.
“Having someone from the MePACS team be so calm and reassuring and check on dad when he needs help is a wonderful assistance and comfort to our family.”
Nicole and Frederick love sitting in the garden, listening to the radio and spending time with their loved ones. Together, they feel that they have made the right choice in supporting his safety and wellbeing for the years to come.