Age Carers

MIOK RETREAT is a short-term, private home-stay in Eleebana. The owner is Dr Les White, a retired teacher/trainer, counsellor and international health systems consultant.

Our focus is on Carers

who are devoted to caring for their aging loved ones at home, but also need a relaxing break whilst their loved one is cared for by another family member, or in temporary residential respite care. As couples age, one partner typically takes a lead role in caring for the other, often with some Support at Home assistance. There comes a point where the primary carer is barely coping. When a ‘two week’ residential respite for their loved one is found, the exhausted primary carer may struggle to regain strength, in the midst of so many tasks they try to catch up on. Then the loved one returns home to an exhausted primary carer. MIOK RETREAT can provide a short restful home-stay, where the carer has the option of discovering and working through options for more resilient caring during the autumn years. Since we have lived overseas in other cultures, we can also cope with linguistically diverse situations.

Placement

When social workers, in conjunction with home-help staff, form the opinion that a debilitated carer may fit these MIOK RETREAT guidelines, contact can be made directly with retired Dr Les White to discuss availability and suitability. Social workers and carers are welcome to check us out! Les will respectfully interview applicant, phone or face-to-face – no forms, no credit card details, no delays! A decision will be made promptly. If accepted, carer will be a social house guest (legally), and be provided with orientation and simple ‘house-rules.’ We trade on trust and respect, which requires openness and honesty. Upon arrival, house guests will receive a Welcome Guide, covering all matters related to their stay, including access codes or keys. We maintain a quiet household and live on the floor above the retreat level. As they say, ‘This is not our first rodeo!’ We’ve had over 60 people, mainly Uni students, live with us in our 51 years of marriage!

Numbers

Rule of thumb is 1 carer, no more than 1 other person, 1 ‘family’ at a time, 1 car space, up to 1 week per 1 month. We can discuss variations. Noone likes surprises!

Food and Kitchen

You’ll have your own modern, clean, well equipped kitchen. Since food preferences are quite varied, no meals are provided. There’s usually tea and coffee and some condiments in the cupboards. Supermarkets are less than 10 minutes away. Meals are often delivered, and people grab food and take-away meals when they’re out.

Inclusions

Private entrance via external stairs or guests can use the lift to avoid navigating external stairs with groceries etc. Made-up Queen bed in B1, 1 King single adjustable hospital bed and 1 other King single made-up in B2. Carer can have their own separate B1 bedroom, or be in the same room as another family member in B2. There’s a dining setting, recliners, activity/ jigsaw table, and two TVs. In the rare event of a blackout, the home has some battery backup which lowers the lift to a lower floor for exit. Backup can’t be guaranteed for your ‘medical devices’ during a blackout. Leisure: Enjoy a leisurely stroll on paved lake foreshore walking tracks in park across the road, bush tracks at rear, decks on three sides. If you’re up for it, there’s an adult bike, tennis equip for hit-ball wall, darts, quoits, totem tennis, soccer & basketball, reclining deck chairs, 8-seat deck table, garden seats, etc.

Bathroom

Private walk-in shower and shower chair. Grab bars are fitted for safety.

Kitty

MIOK RETREAT never asks social house guests for money, but has a ‘cash kitty’ for contributions. No bargaining! No bureaucracy! So what’s the catch? Everyone is aware of the significant costs of providing a safe, clean, private, furnished space. Guests will know that someone else has paid for consumables and cleaning to ensure their stay is enjoyable. So guests often want to contribute to avoid ‘feeling like a burden,’ and want to see the service continue, so may want to ‘pay it forward’, to contribute to the costs of hosting others eg cleaning, AC/heating, internet, Netflix, etc.

COACH Mentoring

COACH can mean Creating Opportunity And Casting Hope – for better carer outcomes! Mentoring is empowerment by invitation, is solution focussed, lowers anxiety, never gives advice, and has no professional fees. We respect your privacy completely. However, as we are right upstairs, we are happy to help with local information or a chat on the deck if you’re feeling up to it. Retired Dr Les no longer maintains professional counselling registrations, but still teaches online. So carers may avail themselves of profiling surveys on ‘Connection Ways’, ‘Coping Ways’, ‘Responding Ways’, etc, and follow-up mentoring if they request it. With two decades of community and hospital chaplaincy experience – after bushfires, floods and disasters, for those facing end-of-life issues, personal support can also be available if requested.

You’re welcome. Call Les on 0402436543.