In Support of Youngcare

Supporting Young People With High Care Needs

Over the past six years, Merlo has contributed close to $50,00 to Youngcare, a not-for-profit organisation helping young people with high care needs. Today across Australia there are thousands of young people with physical disabilities living in aged care and many more living on their own in unsuitable lodgings or with elderly parents.

Through the support of Merlo and other donors, Youngcare provides young people with physical disabilities independence and alternatives by helping them choose when they live, how they live, and whom they live with.

One of the ways Youngcare supports these young people is by providing financial support of up to $10,000 to fund modifications and support that is not covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Melanie’s Story

One of the young people supported by an At Home Grant and Merlo, is Melanie, a 19-year-old woman who was diagnosed at birth with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy GMFCS IV, MACSII, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, and adrenal insufficiency.

If not positioned well, Melanie is at constant risk of aspiration. Her body does not regulate well, and she has very sensitive skin and often experiences a lot of pain. Melanie can perform some everyday tasks with help from her mother or family members, however, depends on them for most practical tasks in the home and the community.

Melanie can move around very slowly using self-propelling wheels while seated in her manual wheelchair both at home and in the community, however, she tires very easily.

For the past few years, Melanie has been fundraising through a Go Fund Me account to try and purchase a vehicle which would make accessibility for her a lot easier.

Once Melanie’s family has bought the vehicle, has been purchased by Melanie’s family, the NDIS will fund the modifications required. So far, the family has raised $29,805. Once the vehicle has been purchased, it will allow Melanie to remain at home under her mother’s care and be able to access day service and programs, social outings, potential employment opportunities, and her many medical appointments and therapy sessions.

This vehicle will give Melanie the freedom to undertake activities outside of the family home, and access to services to help her live her life to the fullest.

Melanie applied for a $10,000 grant from Youngcare towards the purchase of the vehicle which has been approved, and she is now well on her way to owning a modified vehicle.

Jacob’s Story

Jacob is 18 and has also recently received an At Home Grant from Youngcare. He has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which has been progressing rapidly over the last 12 months, with changes in Jacob’s mobility, affecting his ability to transfer, his upper limb function and to complete self-care tasks. Jacob finished school last year, which means he is at home more regularly and requires increased care from his primary caregiver – his father.

For Jacob, an essential part of treatment for DMD is a regular stretching routine that is completed daily. This stretching assists in maintaining a range of motion in his lower limbs, preventing the onset of contractures.

In Jacob’s case, this is crucial to ensure that his feet, which have already begun to internally rotate, maintain the best possible position, and enable him to continue to weight bear and stand for short periods of time. This ability to stand and pivot affords Jacob increased dignity and freedom as it means he is not reliant on using a hoist.

Jacob currently completes these stretches on a lounge or his low bed. This is not ideal, firstly, the soft surface does not allow for a complete stretch to be obtained and secondly, the height of the surface is too low, which creates an unsafe work environment for Jacob’s carers.

Jacob’s hometown, Mudgee is a rural centre with limited support options, and it is essential that his Dad has the correct equipment to care for Jacob to ensure that he can support him for many years to come. Ideally, a therapy table is required.

The change table will be attached to the wall to allow it to be flipped up out of the way when not in use. This will ensure it does not impede on space required by other equipment in the room such as his electric hi/low bed, power wheelchair, recliner chair, and breathing machines.

Jacob and his family applied for funding through the Youngcare At Home Care Grants to cover the cost of a therapy table to enable the completion of the stretching exercises as well as to be used as a change table when required. This piece of equipment will prove to be life-changing to Jacob and his family.

The therapy table cost $8674 and the request was approved by Youngcare’s At Home Grants panel.

For further information on Youngcare’s 'At Home' Grants, click here.