‘I actually cried’: Here’s why this daughter wants an ATV for her dad
- Replies 2
In the vast and rugged landscapes of rural Australia, the challenges of aged care can be as unique as the terrain itself.
However, one loving daughter is determined to change the healthcare landscape not just for her family, but for Aussies living in far-flung areas.
Full-time carer Atlanta Baker gives her utmost attention to her 71-year-old father William Baker, a man with a complex array of health issues including Korsakoff dementia, bipolar disorder, and mobility limitations stemming from a serious car accident and a triple heart bypass.
‘I wash Dad, I clean, I do everything for Dad and I have done for the last few years because he's needed that, and because of his bipolar there are just a lot of complications there, so I'd just rather handle all of that,’ Ms Baker said.
His conditions have left him confined to his one-bedroom house on a rented property in Queensland's Mary Valley, with little opportunity to enjoy the outdoors or engage with his community.
Atlanta has since then witnessed her father's world shrink to the confines of his home, and she's determined to change that by providing a lifeline to rural families like hers.
Her idea? To use part of her father's Level 4 Aged Care Home Care Package to purchase a Side-by-Side (SxS) All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) that she could drive, allowing her father to safely explore his surroundings and maintain a connection with the world beyond his patio.
New SxS ATVs range between $7,000 to $31,000. With around $64,000 of unspent funds in his care package, Atlanta believes an ATV, equipped with a roof cover, roll cage, and seatbelts, could be the solution they need.
While some would think the ATV too costly, Atlanta says the traditional wheelchair is no match for the steep, uneven terrain of their property, and mobility scooters are deemed unsafe given William's cognitive and physical impairments.
‘Just to take him down for a cuppa near the dam in the afternoon or come down and sit under the fan and have a game of cards with me somewhere different, just out in the sunshine, and it just makes a world of difference,’ she shared.
‘There's a lot of needs that a lot of people need rurally that perhaps people who live in towns and cities don't need so much but do take for granted.’
However, the current legislation does not accommodate purchases of ATVs, as they are classified as vehicles and not mobility aids.
Atlanta said she is not asking for additional funding; she's asking for flexibility within the existing policies to further accommodate the needs of rural residents.
Despite this, her Home Care Program provider has reached out to the Aged and Community Care Providers Association to inquire if an ATV could be considered an allowable expense, given its direct relation to William's care needs.
Atlanta's plea is not just about improving her father's quality of life; it's about her well-being too.
As someone who lives with prolapsed discs in her back, she's facing her health challenges while caring for her father.
She's also working to privately fund necessary home renovations, including an upgrade to their cramped bathroom that is no longer suitable for her father's needs.
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia's Rebecca Kok echoes the sentiment Atlanta has.
‘If they are in a rural area, if they are not able to use flat roads with that piece of equipment, then that should be looked at in terms of what is the best arrangement for that person,’ she said.
She also emphasises one of the main reasons why the Home Care Package was conceived.
‘That is the intent of the Home Care Package program as well, it is about people having social connection, it is about them connecting with their community and staying and avoiding also entering into an aged care facility prematurely.’
The situation highlights a broader issue faced by many rural Australians in need of aged care.
The standard mobility aids and services designed for urban environments often fall short in rural settings, where distances are greater, and the terrain is more challenging.
What do you think about Atlanta’s idea? Should the relevant policies for aged care funding be adjusted considering cases like hers and her dad’s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
However, one loving daughter is determined to change the healthcare landscape not just for her family, but for Aussies living in far-flung areas.
Full-time carer Atlanta Baker gives her utmost attention to her 71-year-old father William Baker, a man with a complex array of health issues including Korsakoff dementia, bipolar disorder, and mobility limitations stemming from a serious car accident and a triple heart bypass.
‘I wash Dad, I clean, I do everything for Dad and I have done for the last few years because he's needed that, and because of his bipolar there are just a lot of complications there, so I'd just rather handle all of that,’ Ms Baker said.
His conditions have left him confined to his one-bedroom house on a rented property in Queensland's Mary Valley, with little opportunity to enjoy the outdoors or engage with his community.
Full-time caregiving is no easy task, but for Atlanta Baker, she is determined to care for his father. Image Credit: Matthias Zomer/Pexels
Atlanta has since then witnessed her father's world shrink to the confines of his home, and she's determined to change that by providing a lifeline to rural families like hers.
Her idea? To use part of her father's Level 4 Aged Care Home Care Package to purchase a Side-by-Side (SxS) All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) that she could drive, allowing her father to safely explore his surroundings and maintain a connection with the world beyond his patio.
New SxS ATVs range between $7,000 to $31,000. With around $64,000 of unspent funds in his care package, Atlanta believes an ATV, equipped with a roof cover, roll cage, and seatbelts, could be the solution they need.
While some would think the ATV too costly, Atlanta says the traditional wheelchair is no match for the steep, uneven terrain of their property, and mobility scooters are deemed unsafe given William's cognitive and physical impairments.
‘Just to take him down for a cuppa near the dam in the afternoon or come down and sit under the fan and have a game of cards with me somewhere different, just out in the sunshine, and it just makes a world of difference,’ she shared.
‘There's a lot of needs that a lot of people need rurally that perhaps people who live in towns and cities don't need so much but do take for granted.’
However, the current legislation does not accommodate purchases of ATVs, as they are classified as vehicles and not mobility aids.
Atlanta said she is not asking for additional funding; she's asking for flexibility within the existing policies to further accommodate the needs of rural residents.
Despite this, her Home Care Program provider has reached out to the Aged and Community Care Providers Association to inquire if an ATV could be considered an allowable expense, given its direct relation to William's care needs.
Atlanta's plea is not just about improving her father's quality of life; it's about her well-being too.
As someone who lives with prolapsed discs in her back, she's facing her health challenges while caring for her father.
She's also working to privately fund necessary home renovations, including an upgrade to their cramped bathroom that is no longer suitable for her father's needs.
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia's Rebecca Kok echoes the sentiment Atlanta has.
‘If they are in a rural area, if they are not able to use flat roads with that piece of equipment, then that should be looked at in terms of what is the best arrangement for that person,’ she said.
She also emphasises one of the main reasons why the Home Care Package was conceived.
‘That is the intent of the Home Care Package program as well, it is about people having social connection, it is about them connecting with their community and staying and avoiding also entering into an aged care facility prematurely.’
The situation highlights a broader issue faced by many rural Australians in need of aged care.
The standard mobility aids and services designed for urban environments often fall short in rural settings, where distances are greater, and the terrain is more challenging.
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