MOTHERS whose adult children are being cared for in group homes believe they are facing an uncertain future under the looming National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
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Tamworth widow and mother of four Sheila Pankhurst can’t understand why things have to change under the NDIS.
Her 42-year-old son, Tony, who has profound disabilities and was not expected to survive past his seventh birthday, has been living permanently in a group home in Gunnedah since he was 17.
Her other son, Robert, 50, was paralysed down the right side after a motorbike accident, and he lives independently in Gunnedah.
“The thing I can’t understand is the group home my son is in is perfect,” Mrs Pankhurst said.
“I’ve got no complaints. Tony is very hard to look after and they do such a wonderful job. If they privatise it, it will cause so much heartache for other parents out there.
“If Tony happens to scratch himself, they’ll ring me up and let me know. They’re wonderful people.
“I’m terribly worried. It’s playing up with my nerves. My husband died 26 years ago. I’ve got a daughter and two sons who are very supportive of me – 100 per cent.
“When you’ve got things perfect, you can die happy, not that I’m planning to die any time soon.
“It’s just that you want to know your kids will be looked after when you’re gone.”
Mrs Pankhurst’s daughter, Deborah, 47, lives in Inverell and her other son, Geoffrey, 52, lives in Bingara.
“I’m just very uncertain about the future and would like some assurance that my son will be looked after as well as he is now,” she said.
Bendemeer woman Marie Cowling has talked to The Leader previously about her concerns with the tender process for group homes that will come into effect in 2018.
Mrs Cowling’s severely disabled sons, Mark and Jamie, are living in a Gunnedah group home where they receive excellent care and she doesn’t see any reason why this shouldn’t continue.
For Mrs Cowling, whose own health is not the best, the cloud hanging over her sons’ future only compounds her situation, “a condition that thrives on stress”.
“The latest information I have is that Family and Community Services will decide on a non-government agency of their choosing to come in and take over the service in group homes after 2018,” Mrs Cowling said.
“I don’t believe any government has the right to make that decision. (Tamworth MP) Kevin Anderson received a letter from (Ageing and Disability Minister) John Ajaka who said my sons would be better off with the service they’ll be getting post-2018 than now.
“The services they’re getting now are excellent. My choice is to leave things as they are.”
Reforms to be explained at workshop
REFORMS to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be explained during a workshop being held in Tamworth later this month.
The Northcott Skill Development Program will present the free workshop at Wests’ Diggers on April 30 between 9.30am and 2.30pm. The change from block funding of disability services to individualised funding, and the scrapping of the welfare and charity model of disability funding and what will be replacing it, are among the topics to be covered.
People interested in attending should contact Lorretta Byrnes at Northcott on 6762 4902 or lorretta.byrnes@northcott.com.au
