When most people enter an aged care home, the reality is that returning to the comfort of their own home often feels like an unattainable dream. The transition can seem like a final chapter, with independence slipping away.
The team at Donwood Community Aged Care Services in Melbourne has witnessed an extraordinary story of resilience and recovery, which CEO Natasha Wilkinson was delighted to share. This inspiring tale centres on a lady called Lynn, a soon-to-be-former resident, and her remarkable journey to reclaim her life and prepare to return home.
Lynn’s ordeal began with a fall in January 2025, fracturing her hip and requiring a hip replacement. “She had nine wounds over her body after the fall and had very limited mobility,” Natasha recalls, describing the physical and mental toll.
After moving from hospital to a rehabilitation centre, Lynn’s condition deteriorated. Her wounds, compounded by immobility and health challenges, hindered recovery. “Her physical state was deteriorating, her mind was absolutely deteriorating.
She was declining physical help, declining therapy, and just didn’t know what she could do.”
Initially told she could not return home, Lynn arrived at Donwood on respite care, lacking permanent residency status and relying on a home care package. The team navigated a complex healthcare system to secure her recovery path.
“We had to forge through the system to try and get her permanent care,” Natasha explains. From day 1 in Donwood’s care, Lynn’s transformation began, driven by a holistic, person-centred approach.
The team recognised that recovery required more than physical healing. “Aged care isn’t necessarily about one health concern; it’s about looking at you and your health needs holistically,” Natasha says.
They focused on healing Lynn’s wounds while providing intensive physiotherapy to restore strength and mobility. Immobility had caused incontinence, a major barrier to returning home, especially as Lynn’s partner, couldn’t provide support due to his own health issues and her increasing reliance on him.
“We worked with Lynn to re-educate her bladder and help her become continent again because this was a major factor for her.”
A pivotal moment came during an assessment that could have classified Lynn as a permanent resident, risking her home care package.
“If she was assessed as permanent, she would’ve lost her home care package,” Natasha explains. To preserve Lynn’s options, Donwood extended her respite by 21 days.
When further extensions weren’t possible, and neither restorative nor transitional care programs were viable, alternatives were sought. Lynn’s daughter, , advocated fiercely, securing a surgeon’s approval for an additional month of rehabilitation.
The results were inspiring. “Lynn has been walking around our facility, her continence is under control, and she has the biggest smile on her face,” Natasha shares. Progress required tough conversations, but we got there in the end.
“It’s up to you. We’ve got all the resources here, but if you keep declining, you’re not going to get better,” Natasha told Lynn. To her credit, Lynn persevered. “There were days she couldn’t do things, but the majority of days she did, and that’s what got her to achieve her dreams.”
Lynn’s support network was crucial. Her daughter and home care providers collaborated with Donwood to ensure continuity. Advocacy also secured an upgrade of Lynn’s home care package from a level two to a level four. “That’s an incredible opportunity,” Natasha says, enabling her to stay home longer hopefully
Lynn’s story challenges the idea that aged care is only for end-of-life care. “Aged care isn’t just about looking after residents who can no longer do anything. It’s about a 24/7 holistic approach,” Natasha asserts.
With daily assessments, physiotherapy, and dedicated care, Donwood empowered Lynn to rebuild her life. “You can always leave an aged care home with 14 days’ notice and be back in your home. Aged Care provides the physio, doctors, and dedicated staff who really care about you holistically.”
Lynn’s journey is a beacon of hope, showing what’s possible with care, determination, and advocacy. “We are so proud of the entire team that has got behind Lynn to make her dream come true,” Natasha reflects.
As Lynn prepares to return home, her story underscores the transformative potential of aged care, where residents can reclaim their independence and rewrite their future.
What a fantastic story !
Would love to see so much more of this “re-enablement not diss-enablement”. All the best to Lyn and thank you for sharing a great story with a great outcome.
The story of Lynn her carers and the kindness that just simply oozes from the text is the bit missing in system. This is a story of meaningful respite, rehab and trust, that worked because the key people could recognise and share hope as the strived to support best practice. I am in awe of people who learn to see hope. The person who negotiated the gate keeping, regulation, time restraints, the self doubt to see Lynn return to her home is a very special person indeed.
I have known of many others entered residential care before their time. Most languish as they become institutionalised, regular family visits fade away and blank walls become points of interest. Some smile away they day but inside they look for an end.
Residential care provides an essential service but like a cup of tea it should not be savoured to early or too hot.
Perfectly stated.
Residential Aged Care recipients shouldn’t have to go back home to maintain independence. We maintain independence as much as possible at the home where I work.
It is wonderful to hear of such a case history. The norm is to hear that once placed in an aged care facility there is nil chance of being allowed to go home again, especially if the person is under guardianship. I have never known of any aged care facility to provide such services, dedication and care and it is a credit to Donwood and everyone who collaborated in the common good and outcome for this very fortunate lady. It certainly gives one hope that this type of service and outcome might become the norm rather than an exception to the rule. I think this story should be given full media exposure because it proves that aged care can work and does not need to be a broken system as it currently is if the right mindset, intelligence and will to do what is best for the person are the overriding factors of aged care. As most of us have always said, it is not rocket science – it just needs the right people to do the right thing.
Very interesting and inspiring story. But I know of Aged Care Facilities who would much rather keep Residents (more money in their pocket) instead of going to the trouble of re-education them. My friend is in one and there was no need to keep her there but she got no encouragement to go back home. At first the Aged Care Facility was excellent but their food now is appalling as is the cleanliness of the Home.
Both my husband and I are on Level 4 with MyAgedCare, been with them over 6 years already, have a wonderful Provider and Care Manager. My husband has Stage 4 Prostate Cancer and Congestive Heart Failure and is palliative, cancer has metastasised to his Lungs, Spine, Ribs etc. been given 12 months to live.
I am determined to stay in my own House as I know my Care Manager will do her utmost to see that I will be well looked after.
Thank you for your articles they are very helpful and give us elderly hope.