Faced with the prospect of living without his mother for the first time in his life, Andrew felt worried about his future following his mum’s move to a nursing home.
After experiencing some distressing medical issues and living in unsuitable accommodations, Andrew has plenty to be optimistic about since moving to his North Brighton apartment in May this year.
Previously, the 54-year-old was used to his mother helping him with every aspect of his life. Once he moved into respite accommodation, Andrew felt like his entire life had changed massively. He then moved into shared accommodation.
Moving into shared accommodation should have been a positive experience for Andrew, but it was marred by unsuitable housemates who did not want to engage with him.
Impacted by social isolation, Andrew needed to find new accommodation. Moving into his new apartment has commenced an exciting new chapter in his life, but there was some initial hesitation.
“I always thought Minda was a place for old and sick people to live.”
Despite the reservations, Andrew has settled well into his new apartment and has decorated the space with personal items to make it feel more homely.
Cluster Manager Umar Sillah Bah said the personal growth that Andrew has displayed since moving to his new apartment has been encouraging. Staff have noticed a decrease in Andrew’s behaviours of concern, as well as an openness to step out of his comfort zone.
Inside the four walls of his apartment, Andrew has developed key daily skills, such as cleaning the dishes, meal preparation, hanging the washing out and vacuuming.
While his apartment provides a great environment to relax, Andrew has also tried to get out of his comfort zone by participating in various social activities.
“Since his move, Andrew has consistently gone out for things such as grocery shopping, getting a haircut, and even going out for lunch,” Sillah said.
Although Andrew can sometimes be indifferent to participating in community activities, he has warmed to trying experiences that he hasn’t done before, with the support of staff. There have been multiple occasions where he has visited a quiet venue to enjoy his hobby.
Walking through the front door of his apartment, it is clear that his football allegiances lie with Port Adelaide. Andrew’s passion for football has helped form a friendship with his neighbour, Peter. The two have watched games together over the weekend in the past.
Despite still being in the early stages of living in a new community, Andrew's mother, Shiela, said the move has been as massive positive. She explained that staff consistently go above and beyond to ensure Andrew can live his best possible life.
"The move has been a big positive for Andrew. He has a great relationship with his staff, and I consistently hear about the activities that he does during the week.
I am unable to travel down to see Andrew at the apartment, so his staff ensures that he visits me at least once per week for lunch," Sheila said.
Importantly, the move has provided Andrew with much-needed stability and a foundation to continue his achieve his personal goals. Surrounded by caring staff, he has his eyes firmly on building a strong and successful future in his new apartment.