Many of our clients need daily disability support services and they are continuing during lockdown. We are doing everything we can to keep you safe and supported during this tough time.
However, for some of our social support clients, it’s sometimes a safer option to suspend services. This is a difficult choice for clients and carers and is one that is made on a case-by-case basis .
For some of our clients, social support is vital and they still want to connect with their carers. One of our carers Farhiya has found a unique way she can still support her clients when she can’t see them face-to-face.
Here she explains.
My caring journey with Afea
I’ve always loved caring. I trained as a nurse in Africa before coming to Australia. I did various courses when I arrived and started working with Afea about 5 years ago.
I love caring and working with people and helping them. My clients are like part of my family. They love me; I love them.
How I’m providing services during lockdown
Some of my clients can’t be put on hold during lockdown because they need daily help. But a few of my clients need social support, so I wanted to give them that without the risk of seeing them face-to-face.
One of my clients is a child with autism. He finds it hard to communicate, so we usually spend our sessions reading and I engage with him to help him communicate better.
When I told his family that due to lockdowns we couldn’t meet face-to-face, they asked if we could do it over zoom. They organised some books we can read together, and we read them together online.
It’s helping him engage and communicate better, even during lockdown. The family is happy, the mother and father are so happy.
Singing is helping us get through lockdown
I have another client who I provide social supports to. This client I’ve had for about 3 years and whenever I am with her, the time always goes so fast. We always have so much fun together.
This client loves to sing and loves karaoke. So I thought that could be a fun thing to do together online.
She sends me the song she wants to sing and I look it up on YouTube. Then we zoom and I share my screen with her so she can see the pictures and the words. Then we sing together! It is always so much fun.
