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Wheels to Connect Community

Supporting the aged and people with a disability connect with community.
Project details
Who will benefit from this project?
Regions
Budget
$60,000.00
Project Size
Spread the word
How will the funding be spent?
Funding will assist Whyalla Aged Care to purchase a modified high roof vehicle with a hydraulic wheelchair lift for use by residential and community clients. The vehicle includes 12 seats and two of the seats can be removed for wheelchair access. The vehicle will support the elderly and those with a disability to engage with community by participating in regular social, rehabilitation services and activities that support them to live well.
How will the project be delivered?
Once the new vehicle is commissioned, consumers will be able book transport to and from social programs run over seven days which will be lead by Whyalla Aged Care's Lifestyle, Community, Residential and Volunteer teams. Social program examples include access to day centre activities, respite, gym, swimming pool, sporting and other community events, shopping, social clubs, hotel and restaurant functions, arts and music events
How many people will directly benefit from this project?
Approximately 40-60 participants weekly
How will you measure the impact of this project?
The project will be measured by:
Increase numbers of consumers accessing community activities.
Increase in new volunteer and employees employed to support social programs.
Feedback and results from regular resident/client surveys will also identify the types of community activities consumers attend or want to attend in the future, ease of access on and off the vehicle and any improvements community participation has had on the participants overall wellbeing.
How will the project fit this year's theme of ‘Connect, Grow, Build, Belong’?
Many older people and people with a disability are socially isolated due to a lack of family support or access to regular affordable transport to support them to remain actively involved in day to day community events. The modified vehicle will assist in connecting these people to everyday community activities with the support of a carer or volunteer. Supporting community participation aims to increase the participants independence, their sense of purpose, confidence and overall wellbeing.
Project details
Who will benefit from this project?
Regions
Budget
$60,000.00
Project Size
Spread the word
Organisation details
Organisation Name
Whyalla Aged Care Inc
What does this organisation do?
Whyalla Aged Care is a not for profit provider of Residential Aged Care Services across three aged care homes in Whyalla as well as providing Consumer Directed Home Care Services, Respite Care and Retirement Living Accommodation.
Get in touch
Join our database
administration@whyallaagedcare.com.au
Subscribe to our newsletter
administration@whyallaagedcare.com.au
Give a donation
administration@whyallaagedcare.com.au
Find out how to volunteer with us
administration@whyallaagedcare.com.au
Comments
Comments closed
keeping the aged and disabled mobile is important in Whyalla to get to all the events and other important appointments.
please place this on my plan
This bus is vital to continue to keep people connected to their community. No matter whether older people live in their own homes or in residential care facilities it is so important to keep them connected to the activities in the community that have enriched their lives. A device like this could help break down the walls between residential care and people living in the community to enable individuals living in care to access more social and emotional choices in order to improve their health and wellbeing. I think this project is vital to improve older people's lives in our community.
This is an excellent initiative for the aged and/or disabled residents of Whyalla. Many will benefit from such a vehicle. Throughout the year there are numerous activities within the city that can be enjoyed by all, provided you can get there! This bus would make it possible for a significant number of residents in care facilities. It would also enable attendance and participation at events and functions in other near-by cities and towns in our region. I commend this project to the funding committee.
Having this transport facility would add to my Grandma's quality of life and provide her with a greater level of comfort when she is required to attend appointments. I applaud Whyalla Aged Care on this initiative and trust the idea will be supported by the decision makers.
This vehicle will allow community & residential clients the ability to interact and continue their social activities outside of their homes. The benefits to our clients to access alternate transport is more social inclusion and increased interaction in the community and addresses social isolation of the elderly and disabled.
This is an excellent initiative and will allow community & residential personnel the ability to interact and continue their social activities in a safe vehicle without the expense of taxi's. Being able to continue social interaction in the community is a number 1 priority to ensure mental and physical well being. Well done Whyalla Aged Care for continuing to care about your residents and community members.
This is a great idea and it increase the opportunity for aged and community residents to get out and about and socialise with others in mutually beneficial activities and functions.
The Wheels to Connect project will assist Whyalla Aged Care in the purchase of a mini van to assist home care clients in attending community events and interfacing with other people in the community, without the additional expense of transportation costs while knowing that the Staff manning the van are qualified personnel, which will give them an added sense of security during their outing.
Great initiative/community support activity for the Whyalla Community and in particular, it will provide direct assistance to those with the greatest need: the disabled and the elderly.
This is great for our disabled and elderly residence, I bet they are ecstatic that they will be able to utilize the transport.
Wheels to connect would have a significant role to play in improving social inclusion across our community. Its a very exciting project and if successful, the benefits to our clients to access transport (to enable participation in different programs that are offered in our community) would be huge.
As a potential recipient of Wheels to Connect I would be able to be connected to my family and interest in the Whyalla Men's Shed In. It would be enable me to participate in more than one day a week at the men's shed. While DPI and Des's Cab's offer a limited degree of participation Wheels to Connect would allow others incapacitated persons to engage in the community events that occur regularly in the Whyalla Community. I commend the project to you.
An excellent and very practical plan
The Wheels to Connect Community project is a wonderful opportunity to increase disability friendly transport options available to the elderly and people with a disability so they can remain engaged in every day community activities and attend special events held throughout the year in Whyalla. Supporting people to remain engaged in the community will assist in reducing social isolation and improving overall wellbeing.
What a fantastic opportunity for our elderly and disabled residents to stay engaged in our local community.
This is a great opportunity for both aged and disabled members of our local community. Being able to access a Community Vehicle of this size will greatly enhance peoples lives though increasing their independence, their sense of purpose, confidence and enable them to live well.
The acquisition of this type of vehicle would greatly enhance the ability of Whyalla Aged Care clients to participate in a wider range of Community activities. It would supplement the current transport assistance received from DPI, access cabs and family members to allow for an increased participation in activities for elderly and disabled clients within the Whyalla Community.
I have personally witnessed the joy on resident's faces when they have the opportunity to attend social functions/activities. If successful, the bus will provide access to the aged/disabled of our community.
The Wheels To Connect Community Project is an excellent initiative that will allow greater opportunities for both aged and disabled people to attend community activities within Whyalla and the surrounding areas.
Whyalla Aged Cares proposed community transport will assist in the social inclusion for many individuals and families to participate in functions and events that would normally find it difficult to attend. The disability accessibility will include a further boost to community members families and allow a level of independence never experienced before.
Social isolation can lead to depression. As a society/community I believe we need to look after our vulnerable people ie elderly; disabled. The Wheels To Connect Community project, if successful, will provide opportunity to connect the socially isolated aged/disabled with the community. This will benefit not only the people who are re-connecting to the community, and the staff/volunteers that escort them to events; but the community as well.
Affordability, accessibility and isolation are very real issues for the elderly people in Whyalla at this time. This Grant could provide opportunities for our residents and clients which their families cannot.

People with a disability or chronic health issue
Living with a disability or long term or chronic health issue can severely affect our wellbeing through unemployment or underemployment, social isolation or exclusion and poor mental or physical health.

People Experiencing Social Isolation
It is important for our wellbeing to have strong and meaningful social connections with our community. Members of our community that do not have these connections can be socially isolated. Social isolation can result in poor mental and physical health.
Gary Misan
28 May 2017
An important initiative for Whyalla Aged Care residents