Aged-care resident faces pothole hell
AN elderly lady says she lives in fear for her safety due to the muddy, pothole-ridden carpark at her Sorell agedcare home.
Joy Bryce said her life has been a “nightmare” since she moved into the Sorell Independent Living Units in February.
The 73-year-old said she’d had several close calls while walking on the slippery mud, which had an unsteady surface which caused rainwater to pool together in big puddles. Ms Bryce uses a walker, having suffered from a previously damaged hip, bursitis, a torn rotator cuff and a damaged hamstring.
She fears one more fall could take away her mobility once and for all, spelling the end of her independence.
“I can’t live like this,” Ms Bryce said. “For my safety I’m not prepared to walk over the grass with my walker because if I slip and fall – that’s it. If I can’t get to my phone, who’s going to hear me?”
In correspondence with Uniting AgeWell, she requested she be allowed to park on the grass outside her unit, but the request was denied.
In a letter to residents in May, the company said it was aware of the problem and was considering its options.
“It has been brought to our attention that the gravel car park used by ILU residents and Uniting AgeWell staff is not to a satisfactory standard,” it said.
“Please be aware that we are currently reviewing our options to ensure that this area is safely maintained.”
A Uniting AgeWell spokesman said it planned to build a sealed road for residents to park on. In the meantime, the spokesman said residents could park on the road in front of the Uniting Church or the carpark next to the Ningana residential agedcare home.
They acknowledged Ms Bryce had difficulty walking such distance, but said it was the closest allowable option while they worked on a permanent solution.
“There is a crown lease parcel of land which people choose to park on which is close to Ms Bryce’s unit, which is not currently owned by Uniting AgeWell,” the spokesman said.
“The organisation is however in the process of acquiring the land and, once owned, Uniting AgeWell will be developing the site which will include a sealed carpark which the independent living unit residents will also have access to.”
The company has agreed to allow Ms Bryce to break her lease early without penalty.