After a traumatic brain injury, 94-year-old Mary is living a life of dignity and joy thanks to All About Caring

“I don’t think Mum would be with us today without the incredible support of All About Caring, Lifetime Care and Support Program, and the entire team, including our family. All About Caring has played a major role in what is truly a collective effort.”

- Peter, Son of Mary.

In 2010, Peter’s 80-year-old mother, Mary, was struck by a bus—an accident that forever altered her life. The impact left her with a severe traumatic brain injury, qualifying her for the Lifetime Care and Support Program, a government-funded initiative designed for individuals who have sustained a catastrophic motor vehicle injury.

Challenge

• Mary’s increasing care needs required more comprehensive support as her health declined.
• Poor communication from the family’s previous provider made it difficult to address Mary’s evolving needs.
• Mary’s family prioritised maintaining Mary’s mobility, nutrition, activity and engagement.
• They sought a flexible, personalised care partner and found All About Caring.

Solution

• Implemented a walking and exercise program to maintain mobility.
• Facilitated social engagement by organising outings to the theatre, symphonies, and other activities.
• Managed Mary’s nutritional needs while honouring her preferences and autonomy.
• Provided proactive health monitoring and coordinated care with various health professionals.
• Established collaborative care planning through quarterly meetings with the care team, medical professionals, and Mary’s family.

The impact of All About Caring’s involvement in Mary’s life is undeniable. At 94, she continues to live with dignity and joy despite the severity of her brain injury and the physical challenges she faces.

The collaborative effort between All About Caring, Lifetime Care, Mary’s family, and her healthcare team created a strong, unified support system. This proactive approach ensured that Mary’s evolving needs were consistently met and any challenges were addressed before they impacted her well-being. Although Mary’s independence has diminished, All About Caring has helped her retain as much autonomy as possible.

Peter credits Mary’s long and fulfilling life largely to the support she’s received. “I can tell you now,” he said, “if the support wasn't there through All About Caring and also Lifetime Care, mum would not be in as good shape as she is today”. The personalised care not only preserved her quality of life as her health declined but also prevented an early move to a nursing home, which may well have accelerated her deterioration.

“I take my hat off to All About Caring; they’ve made a major impact on Mum's life.”