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I Didn’t Know Where to Start”: How One Salisbury Family Found the Right Support

Home care Salisbury

I Didn’t Know Where to Start”: How One Salisbury Family Found the Right Support

This story is based on situations we see often. Names and details have been changed.

Karen was on her lunch break when her phone buzzed. It was a neighbour of her brother Dave.

“He’s okay,” the neighbour said, in the tone people use when it isn’t quite okay. “I just saw the bins haven’t gone out in weeks. And I don’t think he’s been getting to the shops.”

Dave is 62 and lives alone in Salisbury. He’s lived there for years, and he’s proud of it. He’s also on the NDIS, with mobility challenges that have slowly made everyday jobs harder. He’d never tell Karen he was struggling. Like a lot of people, he’d say “I’m fine” and mean “please don’t make a fuss.”

The problem: too many questions, no clear answers

That night Karen did what most of us would do. She typed “elderly care near me” into Google.

She found aged care providers, retirement villages and government websites. None of it felt right. Dave wasn’t looking to move out, and it turned out his funding came through the NDIS, not aged care. She then searched “home care agency near me” and “NDIS service provider Salisbury”, and ended up with a dozen tabs open and a headache.

Her worries were ones many families share:

  • Which type of support does Dave actually qualify for?
  • How do we find someone he’ll feel comfortable with?
  • What if he says no and gets embarrassed?
  • How do we know who’s trustworthy?

Step one: a conversation, not a sales pitch

Karen rang us on a Thursday afternoon. She expected to be handed a brochure. Instead, someone asked how she was.
We started with what Dave’s week actually looked like, not with a list of services. Karen told us:

  • He was skipping proper meals and living on toast and tea
  • The house was getting harder to keep on top of
  • He’d stopped going to his weekly coffee catch-up because getting there felt like too much
    He was frustrated with himself, though he’d never say so

That last point mattered most. Dave didn’t need someone to take over. He needed someone to help him keep doing the things that made him him.

Step two: meeting Dave on his terms

Rather than sending someone in with a clipboard, we suggested a relaxed first visit with Karen there, at Dave’s place, at a time he chose. We asked him questions like:

  • “What’s a good day for you?”
  • “What would you like to keep doing yourself?”
  • “What’s the one thing that’s bugging you most?”

Dave’s answer was simple. “I’d like to cook a proper dinner again. And I miss the coffee group.”
That became the plan.

Step three: a plan that fits

We didn’t build a big package. We started small and practical:

  • Meal preparation support twice a week. The carer cooks with Dave, so he stays involved and keeps his skills.
  • Light domestic assistance to get the house back under control, including those bins.
  • Community access once a week, so Dave could get back to his coffee catch-up with a support worker alongside him.
  • Support coordination to help Karen and Dave understand his NDIS plan and make sure the funding was being used well.

We also kept the same support worker where we could. Dave isn’t a fan of new faces, and consistency helped him relax quickly.

What changed

After the first few weeks, Karen noticed the small things.

Dave was cooking again, and there were leftovers in the fridge.He’d mentioned a mate from the coffee group by name. The house felt lived-in rather than neglected.
Dave’s own review was typically understated: “It’s alright, actually.”
That’s about as good as it gets from Dave.

What this family did right

Looking back, there’s a lesson in how Karen handled it, and it applies to anyone in her position:

  • She acted early. She didn’t wait for a crisis.
  • She called someone and asked for help.
  • She didn’t try to figure it all out alone.
  • She involved Dave. The plan was built around his goals, not decided for him.
  • She started small. You can always adjust support as needs change.

If this sounds like your family

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start the conversation.

Essence Support Services is based in Mawson Lakes and supports people across Adelaide’s northern suburbs, including Salisbury. Whether you’re not sure what funding applies, don’t know what to ask, or just want to talk it through, we’re happy to help.

Call (08) 8288 0894, email admin@essencesupportservices.com, or request a call back at a time that suits you.

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