I Support Youngcare
On my desk while typing this I look at a picture of my late husband Fedor. A photo from 8 years ago. A happy, healthy young man, that’s what he was. Till december 2001 when a had a severe car accident. I was 7 months pregnant with our daughter Isa. Fedor never recovered and ended up in an aged care facility, being 100% paralyzed. 4 years later he died. 1 year later I arrived in Australia with our daughter Isa to make a new start, in the country I have always been in love with.
I listen to the Powderfinger song “Not my kind of scene”. It’s the tone piece from the Youngcare site. The clip is very powerful…
“Currently, over 6,500 young Australians live in aged care facilities
Young people like you, some a bit younger, some a bit older, nut none “old”
21% go outside the aged care home less than once a month
34% participate in a community based event, such as shopping, almost never
44% receive a visit from friends less than once a month
You wouldn’t want that for yourself
You wouldn’t want it for a friend
You wouldn’t want it for your child
Aged care is no place for any young person
What is needed is appropriate care
Relevant care
Dignified care
For young people who just happen to need
Youngcare”
Youngcare was formed to provide relevant and dignified lifestyles for Young Australians with high care needs.
Why I am so passionate about Youngcare is because of Fedor. After his accident he ended up in an aged care facility. It was just detrimental to both his physical and his mental health.
The first year Fedor was ill he had many visitors… and the years after that…hardly anybody came to see him. One reason for that was that people just couldnt cope with Fedor’s illness.
The other reason was because the aged care facility Fedor lived in was a very depressing environment for young people to come to. Fedor lived in a small bedroom, that was it. At the Youngcare appartments the residents have their own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, balcony, tv, the whole lot. That is a dignified and appropriate environment for young people. For them as well as for their family and friends that come and visit.
While I am building my business I am raising awareness for Youngcare.
So here we are in Australia…. Our new home country. And we are happy.
I came to Australia with our daughter Isa and I found Youngcare. Fedor was in the unfortunate position having to live in an aged care facility. Fedor did not die for no reason. It gives me (and Isa) a reason to stand up and speak about the need for Youngcare!
To share our story with you makes me happy, and maybe it’ll make you happy, because out of everything less fortunate always comes something good.
The good that I have, together with wonderful friends, done for Youngcare so far is:
Organised an awareness day in the park in Bundaberg to raise awareness for Youngcare as well as funds to get alkaline water systems (through my business) to each resident, at this stage 9 out of the 14 appartments have an alkaline water fountain;
Walked the Bridge to Brisbane walk with friends Linda and Erik on Father’s day 2008 (how appropriate…) and raised $2300 for Youngcare;
Helped organise the first Bargara Health and Wellbeing Festival on the 28th of september. During this Festival we raised awareness and funds for Youngcare. $875,55!
Walked the 5 km Bridge to Brisbane with Isa on August 30 2009 and raised $1200.
Organized Mira’s LifeBalance Expo on October 18 at Bundaberg. We raised awareness and funds for Youngcare; another $800.
And this is just the beginnig…
My dream and vision is to create a Youngcare facility at Bargara, permanent apartments for the local young people with high care needs as well as holiday / respite appartments! But that’s not my call off course… Have a look at the Youngcare site to see what’ s happening! www.youngcare.com.au