Busselton aged-care resident returns home after eight months

A former Busselton aged-care resident has beaten the odds and moved back home with her family. Joan Powell moved to Baptistcare William Carey Court Residential Care in Busselton last year, after suffering a series of health crises that meant she could no longer be cared for at home. During the eight months she lived at Baptistcare, Ms Powell was encouraged to attend regular physio and weights group sessions. Ms Powell did a range of exercises, including moving an imaginary ball, bicep curls with 1kg weights, knee lifts, side steps, deep breathing and taking long strides with her four-wheel walker. The determined former charity shop volunteer has become one of the few Australian seniors to have successfully turned back the clock, transitioning from permanent residential aged care to home care. Ms Powell’s husband Bob visited her almost daily and made sure she was never without flowers and chocolates. “It is so great we can be together at home again,” Mr Powell said. “Without the support and encouragement of the staff at Baptistcare, Joan coming back home to live would never have been possible,” he said. Ms Powell has vascular dementia, as well as mobility issues, and is taking things slowly, but she has already managed to return to her beloved craft group.