Respite care services

Before State Wide CS support: John Smart, living with paranoid schizophrenia, struggled with maintaining his home. His house was extremely cluttered, and the backyard was filled with dog faeces, causing a significant odour issue for the neighbours. John rarely left his home, only going out a couple of times a month, and his overall living conditions were poor.

Services used:

• Home decluttering and deep cleaning
• Support with daily living activities
• Community access support
• Budgeting assistance
• Health and wellbeing support

Benefits of State Wide CS support: After engaging with State Wide Community Services, John experienced a remarkable transformation. His home was thoroughly cleaned and decluttered, making it a more liveable space. The team helped John with cooking, budgeting, and purchasing special shoes due to his diabetes. They also assisted him in saving up for noise-canceling headphones, which helped him manage the voices he hears due to past trauma.

John’s support workers encouraged him to get out of the house more often. They took him on walks around South Perth and Kings Park and integrated him into community activities like seasonal barbecues at the State Wide office with other participants. They also helped John find resources like The Haven in Victoria Park, where he could pick up free food, including dog food, coffee, and bread, which greatly aided his budgeting efforts. John’s support workers took him on little trips to various places where he could obtain free supplies, such as Victory Life Church.

The support workers played a crucial role in helping John maintain his hygiene and household cleanliness. Initially, John’s home was in poor condition, with clutter, dirty dishes, and pet messes. The support workers began by meeting John outside his home due to the aggressive behaviour of his dog and the home’s condition. Over time, as John grew more comfortable with their assistance, he allowed them into his home, and they helped him clean and maintain it, ensuring a safe environment for both John and the support workers.

John’s social interactions improved significantly. He transitioned from having only male support workers to being comfortable with female support workers as well. He now enjoys community access trips and assistance with daily living, having two support workers visit him twice a week. John’s aggressive behaviour has diminished, and he has become more outgoing and sociable.

John now has two dogs and is more than capable of looking after them. John has significantly reduced his hospital visits and has fewer outbursts. His therapeutic journey with music has brought him happiness and a sense of calm.

John’s journey with State Wide Community Services has led to substantial improvements in his quality of life, showcasing the positive impact of consistent support and community integration. He is now happier, off his CTO, more independent, and actively participating in various activities that enhance his wellbeing.