Karen’s father, Robert, faced numerous hospital admissions in the final months of his life. During these challenging times, the support of the allied health team at Metro South Health made a world of difference.
Karen’s story begins with her father’s third hospital stay at QEII Hospital. Robert was receiving care from the team including occupational therapist David from the Behaviour Support Team and social worker Shania from the Allied Health Pathways team. They were there to assist Robert, with not only his medical needs, but with the human side of his care too.
“David wasn’t just an occupational therapist; he was someone who truly saw my dad as a person. He didn’t just come in, do his job, and leave. He went out of his way to connect with us,” said Karen.
“When the palliative care team spoke to me about my dad’s condition, David must have heard the news, and he met me in dad’s ward after going to visit dad. He took the time to be with me at that difficult time. He didn’t just provide professional support; he acknowledged the emotional weight of what we were going through.”
But it wasn’t just David who made a difference. Shania, the social worker, was another key figure in Karen’s support network and advocate for his placement in a residential aged care facility.
“One day, when I wasn’t able to visit Dad on the ward, Shania took the time to meet me downstairs and collect my father’s clean clothes,” Karen said. “It was a small gesture, but it meant so much. It showed me that they truly cared.”
"I knew I could always reach out to her, and she was there with answers, advice, and a listening ear.”
“At the same time as managing what was happening with my father, my mother had also been in a palliative care unit at another hospital. Shania reached out to me when my mother passed. Her doing that, despite mum not being a patient of hers, made a huge human difference.”
When Robert had a fall and needed to be transferred to the hospital, Karen requested he be sent to QEII Hospital, simply because of the bond she had formed with the allied health team there.
“I knew that if he went to QEII, David and Shania would be there, and that made all the difference,” she explained.
For Karen, the lasting impact of the allied health team wasn't just the support they gave her father, but the way they helped her navigate an incredibly difficult time with dignity, compassion, and respect.
“Losing both our parents in a short space of time was an enormous loss for my brother, two sisters and our families. I’ll forever be grateful to David, Shania, and the whole Metro South team. They were more than just healthcare providers—they were people who showed us kindness when it was needed most.”