It is a cloudy Saturday afternoon in Geelong and groups of keen Geelong Football Club supporters are piling in to GMHBA Stadium to watch the game. Mercy Health Home Care Services client Daniel (Dan) O’Keefe, a diehard Cats fan, and Home Care Worker Kevin McNulty are among them. Going to the football is one of Dan’s favourite things to do.
Dan, who is 51 years old, has cerebral palsy, which was caused by a bleed on his brain when he was just a few days old. Despite his disability and being unable to speak, there are still plenty of things he loves to do with the help of others.
Dan’s wide circle of support includes his large and loving family (five older sisters, one older brother, three nephews and three nieces), friends and support workers at his shared accommodation. Dan is also enabled by Mercy Health home care workers like Kevin, who keep Dan connected to the community.
“Dan is a very sociable person who loves his family,” says his older sister Irene. “With the help of home care workers like Kevin, he can be much more independent. Having this support normalises his life and gives him the opportunity to go out and do what other people are doing.”
Apart from going to regular family functions and seeing his beloved Cats play, Dan loves visiting one of the many local cafes, walks along the beach and attending Mass at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Parish. “He just likes to get out, experience new things and feel like he’s part of the community,” says Kevin.
Just having human contact… makes a big difference.
Kevin is one of a number of home care workers who take Dan to regular outings. Kevin was a graphic designer in the advertising industry for 30 years before he became a Home Care Worker five years ago. He finds his new vocation deeply rewarding and understands that empathy is key to building a strong and trusting relationship with clients, including Dan.
“It’s important to talk to someone at a level where you have a common understanding. Listening to what the client has to say and giving them your presence and attention is important too, and by doing so they don’t just feel like someone who is sitting in a chair and being ignored,” says Kevin.
What he really loves about the role is giving clients a break from their everyday environment and simply spending time with them.
“I find that so many people are marginalised and isolated and just having human contact and people who are interested in them and will spend some time makes a big difference,” says Kevin.
Last reviewed October 24, 2019.