A returned serviceman plans to enjoy time with his wife out in the community after a small band united to secure him a wheelchair.
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Gerard Smith spends much of his day in a wheelchair at Kangaroo Flat’s Benetas’ St Lawrence Court aged care residence.
Several months ago a small group of people, including an occupational therapist and representatives from two returned servicemens’ groups came together to find Mr Smith the perfect wheelchair.
Occupational therapist Lynne Cooper met Mr Smith for a consultation late last year and quickly realised he needed something more than a standard wheelchair.
She said standard wheelchairs could exacerbate pain and ill health.
“Lots of standard chairs hold you up in a very upright position. People can suffer pain and pressure wounds because of that,” Ms Cooper said.
Ms Cooper knew a good quality wheelchair would be expensive at $4000. It was certainly too costly for wife and pensioner Margaret Smith.
“I found out Gerard was a national serviceman and we approached two organisations who kindly agreed to help,” Ms Cooper said.
Those two organisations were Carry On Victoria and the RSL, who presented Mr Smith with his new wheelchair this week.
The chair was custom fitted, giving Mr Smith sufficient back support and good pressure cushions to sit on.
“Gerard can be reclined so that he is always in a good and comfortable position,” Ms Cooper said.
The chair was also lightweight and could make tight turns – just the thing to allow Mrs Smith to take her husband out out of the aged care residence on walks.
The couple planned to do things they had not been able to do in years, including going shopping and having coffees.
“He’s been in care for four years and has not seen Lansell Square since it was renovated,” she said when asked where the couple intended to go on their first walk.
Mr Smith is not the only person who will benefit from the wheelchair.
The RSL and Carry On Victoria donated the chair to the aged care residence so that others could use it well into the future.