Lorelle retains independence after a brain injury.

Lorelle Risstrom’s life changed forever in 1997 when she was hit by a car as a pedestrian, sustaining a severe brain injury.

Twelve years later, she is getting on with life, enjoying time with friends, family and her beloved cat, and lives independently with home and personal care services provided by Australian Home Care.

Lorelle, 37, has no recollection of the accident that resulted from the simple act of walking across the street, in an eastern suburb of Melbourne. With 60 percent of her brain capacity lost, Lorelle spent four months in a coma and endured months of rehabilitation where she learned how to function again.

With the support of Australian Home Care, in 1999 Lorelle moved into a unit.

Eight years ago, she bought her current home with compensation from the Transport Accident Commission, and is living well with the companionship of her carers and her friendly Burmese cat, Zimba.

“The Support Workers from Australian Home Care are great,” Lorelle says, “they are wonderful, helpful people.”

Australian Home Care provides approximately 55 hours of weekly support, with a roster of Support Workers each day.

Glenda, Lorelle’s morning Support Worker, occasionally helps her with showering, dressing and drying her hair and takes Lorelle shopping and to medical appointments.

Her afternoon Support Worker prepares the evening meal, sometimes cooking extra to freeze so Lorelle can heat it up in the microwave.

The house is cleaned once a week and gardening services are also provided

The services make a significant difference to Lorelle’s quality of life, enabling her to live independently in her own home, safe in the knowledge that help is at hand for the tasks she is unable to manage.

There is also a social aspect to the care Lorelle receives, with Friday nights and Saturdays being time for trips to the movies or to a café for lunch with her Support Worker, which helps to make her life that much more enjoyable..