“Our family had our hearts broken when we learned the path my Mum would be taking when she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. It was progressive, but rapid and now Mum is virtually non-communicative and requires our care 24/7. My Dad is now 68 and my sister was recently offered a fabulous new position in Dubai that we insisted she take. This left myself to make the tough decision I knew my Dad couldn’t. Seek permanent residential care for Mum. Somewhere that would know what to do if she choked on her food, wouldn’t panic and would have the strength and facilities to shower her properly and make sure she was safe in bed when sleeping. My Dad simply didn’t have the physical or emotional capacity to keep managing these ‘once simple’ tasks. I am a single Mum with three teenage children and sadly, just don’t have the time to support both families. Mum is now in Banksia Care, and I see her weekly, Dad every day. It was hard at first and we all felt so incredibly guilty, but I know it is the best for Mum and the counsellors at Banksia have helped us adjust and come to terms with this new reality.”
