Pathways to Independence: Joanne’s Journey to Independent Living
Joanne is a 27-year-old woman living in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon. For her entire life, Joanne has lived at home with her parents, Anita and Colin. Anita and Colin have been incredible advocates and supporters for Joanne in her engagement with community, her education and activities. They also support Joanne in her aspirations and a pathway to independence.
And, Joanne has dreams of making her own decisions and exploring new opportunities. She is committed to building her skills with daily tasks and needs support to feel confident.
Recently, Joanne, Anita and Colin started to discuss new opportunities for Joanne’s independence with her NDIS Support Coordinator Ash.
That is when she discovered MediStays Pathways to Independence program. This program changed Joanne’s life.
Discovering MediStays
Joanne and her parents heard of MediStays from her long-term NDIS Support Coordinator Ash. Ash has been coordinating supports for Joanne for more than four years and understands her desire for independence. She also knew that Joanne’s parents are growing older and that her adult siblings are busy with their own careers and young families. Ash suggested to Joanne and her parents that they look into MediStays Pathways to Independence program.
As a first step, Joanne visited the MediStays website and read about the program. She felt excited about the opportunity to try the first steps towards living on her own. The idea of managing her own little space was exciting. She also had reassurance from Ash who would arrange for her own NDIS support workers to support Joanne with daytime support and overnight sleepovers. And, her Mum and Dad were only a short drive away!
Joanne and Ash decided to apply and the process was simple. With Ash’s assistance, Joanne filled out the online application form. After a short wait, she received an email from Alicia, MediStays Care Navigator with recommendations for her program. Joanne chose a lovely new apartment in the nearby suburb of Moonee Ponds and was accepted into the program.
Moving into Her Own Space
The day Joanne moved into her own apartment was one she will always remember. It was sunny and she spent the morning preparing for her stay with a packing checklist from MediStays. After lunch, Joanne’s support worker Caryn picked her up and drove her the short distance to the apartment. Joanne had everything she needed to check-in independently, including her photo identification and MediStays booking confirmation. While her first stay was only for five nights, this was her stepping stone to independence!
As Joanne shared
“I felt excitement and a little bit nervous too”.
For the first time, she had a special space of her own. The apartment was fully self-contained, providing her with a safe environment to learn and grow.
Once settled in, Joanne unpacked her suitcase and hung her clothes in the wardrobe. She had also packed a photo of her family and pet dog Blackie, which she placed on her bedside table.
In the second bedroom, Caryn set-up everything for Joanne’s care and passive overnight support worker to stay.
One of the first things Joanne focused on was grocery shopping. With the supermarket located just a short walk around the corner, Joanne took a copy of her MediStays meal planner and engaged in the first steps to healthy meal preparation. When living at home, Joanne had rarely prepared meals or cooked for herself. Now, she had access to MediStays meal planners and nutritious recipes. This opened up a new world of possibilities!
She collected what she needed for the evening meal and paid independently at the checkout. And, all the time, Caryn was close by when she was needed.
They walked home and Caryn assisted Joanne to prepare her meal. After dinner they played board games and Caryn’s colleague Jessica arrived to take over and stay overnight, giving Joanne peace of mind.
Enjoying Cooking and New Skills
Throughout the week, cooking became a new passion for Joanne. She was keen to practice making the same recipe again. This gave her the confidence to start experimenting with the next recipes and ingredients, developing new skills in the kitchen.
Joanne found joy in preparing her meals. She loved trying these new recipes and discovering flavours she had never experienced. Cooking became more than just a task; it was an enjoyable activity that boosted her confidence.
Through this process, Joanne was empowered by her Support Workers and learned about making good food choices, which improved her confidence… this newfound skill was a significant step towards her independence.
Building Confidence in the Community
The Pathways to Independence program also focused on Joanne’s connection with her community. Joanne learned the names of staff working in the local café and enjoyed ordering a hot chocolate on her morning walk!
Joanne found that being part of the community increased her confidence. Building social connections helped her to feel happy and more comfortable engaging with others.
Joanne’s family, support coordinator and support worker Caryn encouraged Joanne to explore new opportunities in a safe environment. From paying for her groceries at the supermarket, to preparing a meal, each experience helped her to gain confidence and develop new skills. She even baked cupcakes on her final afternoon and invited her family for afternoon tea!
Increased Independence and Confidence
Joanne’s journey with MediStays introduced an entirely new chapter to her life. What started as one four-night booking, repeated every month for five months at the same property. With every stay, Joanne became more independent and self-assured. Living in her little apartment taught her responsibility and decision-making.
She learned how to manage her supermarket payments and handle daily tasks. Joanne discovered the satisfaction of accomplishing goals on her own. Her increased independence led to a sense of empowerment.
Joanne’s confidence grew with each step she took. She became more comfortable in social situations and embraced new challenges. The support from MediStays played a crucial role in his development.
A New Chapter in Life
Six months on and Joanne is thriving. She enjoys the freedom and independence and continues to cook, explore, and engage with the community.
Joanne is grateful for the Pathways to Independence program. It provided her with a new suite of tools and support needed to achieve her dreams.
Her journey is a testament to the power of independence with trusted providers and the right support. With MediStays, Joanne found a pathway to a fulfilling and independent life. Joanne is now on a pathway to shared living in his own SDA home. Congratulations to Joanne on her achievements, we are so proud of you!
If you’re looking for support on your journey to independence, visit our Pathways to Independence page to learn more. Your own pathway to independence is just a step away.
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