A lifetime of care

FORMER nurse Jean, 94, has spent 70 years caring for ill and disabled family members.

She nursed her father when he returned from fighting in Malaysia in World War II, she spent 16 years caring for her husband, and has cared for her mother and her two sons.

"It seems that path has been laid out for me," she said.

For the past 50 years, her life has been devoted to caring for her son John.

The youngest of six, John was born in 1966 with Down syndrome.

The mother and son are the very human faces of the housing crisis gripping the disability sector in Australia.

Jean is a member of Bendigo organisation Quality Living Options, a group of elderly parents of people with disabilities. Fed up with government inaction, the group plans to build its own care facility for members' children.

Jean, who has a heart condition, said she wants to see her son in a home "where he is happy and looked after".

"I want him somewhere secure; he needs to be in a place with good supervision," she said.

John needs help with things like food, clothing and financials. 

A fall two years ago left him needing a walking frame or wheelchair to get around.

"He needs supervision for things like his food and clothing," Jean said.

"I don't see him ever being able to handle his own money completely by himself."

Jean is assisted in John's care by her daughters Fiona and Jane. Her son Rob, who lives in the Northern Territory, makes the trip to Bendigo to help out with his brother when necessary.

When John was born, Jean was told to "put him in a home and forget about him".

She refused and with the help of her family, John has thrived and is a source of joy for his relatives.

"He's grown to be quite a delight to everybody. He's such a loving child," Jean said.

However after a lifetime of caring for others, at 94, Jean said it was time for a break.

"I need a lot of rest these days," she said.

John's sister Jane said suitable housing was "basic to human life".

"We're very, very supportive of QLO and what they are trying to achieve," she said.

"The situation facing us is facing so many others."