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From bugs to hugs – life is looking up

Written bythriveadmin
Published on14 Jan, 2020
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“She always wants to hug you! She hugs you 10 times in 10 minutes!” exclaims Broken Hill Local Area Coordinator Angela Turner, speaking of her National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant Marg.

Marg often drops by the Social Futures Office in Broken Hill for a social visit. She loves a chat. “I know all about her family and the goings on for Marg,” Angela says.

Marg (58) and her husband Tex (65) are long-time residents of Broken Hill. Marg has NDIS funding and supports in place to help with intellectual disabilities and hearing impairment.

Up until recently Marg and Tex were renting a house which was so decrepit, it had been condemned. They were there for more than 10 years. There was no air conditioning, it was poorly kept and it was making Marg ill.

“One day she came in crying,” recalls Angela. “Her son had had a child but he refused to bring him to the house to see her.

Marg lifted her skirt and showed me her legs. She was covered in bites. You could see the sores on her. At night things were crawling all over her. I organised for a cleaner to go out but the quote was colossal, it was such a hideous mess. Marg begged us for help to find somewhere new.

I had a chat with the agent and told them we included house and yard maintenance supports in Marg’s NDIS plan, and this is what got them over the line in the end. If they didn’t have the NDIS, they wouldn’t have gotten the property.

The day the real estate agent told Marg and Tex they had a house, they were over the moon. They were at the agent’s office before noon for the 2.30pm viewing.

Their new home is in a nice part of town, close to the CBD, with easy access to transport, and it has air conditioning. All just in the nick of time for summer and for a family Christmas.

“I don’t think they ever thought they would get out of the house they were in.,” Angela says.

Now they have a much happier and healthier standard of living.

“We are just so excited to have a real home. It has a bath! And air conditioning! And a new stove! We couldn’t have done this without the help from the NDIS. We couldn’t be happier,” exclaims Marg.

Marg and Tex’s new home is having a few little touches made before they move in in the New Year. With funding from the NDIS the front access to the property will be widened to accommodate their scooter and bath feet are being added to help with safe entry to the bath.

When Marg first accessed the NDIS through Social Futures, she couldn’t hear. Her LAC made an appointment for her to have her ear drained and then to obtain a hearing aid. “She came in all excited because she could hear!” Angela says.

The future is looking so much brighter for Marg and Tex. Angela is now helping Marg to pursue a volunteer role at an Op Shop in the New Year.

They’ve come a long way. And they’re happy. They are over the moon. Marg is so appreciative of the NDIS and so excited about her new home and her new life.

Using her NDIS plan

Marg’s NDIS supports have helped her:

  • achieve safe and comfortable housing
  • improve both her and her husband’s general health
  • improve her hearing and quality of life through a hearing aid
  • increase confidence and social connection through visits and experience at the Op Shop
  • improve access to family and social connections