Helping Sandra achieve her goal of going home
18th September 2026 | 4 min readWhen Sandra arrived at Gawler Hillside Care Community in South Australia, she was living with chronic pain, unable to walk and fully dependent on others for her care. Through personalised care, rehabilitation and support from her family and our Care Community team, Sandra regained her mobility, confidence and independence. Twelve months later, she is preparing to return home to live with her daughter Harriet in the Adelaide Hills.
Care built around what mattered to Sandra
After a lengthy hospital stay, Sandra came to our Care Community requiring permanent care. She wasn't walking, relied on significant medication, and lacked confidence in her future.
Despite the challenges she faced, Sandra remained clear about what she wanted.
"Her goal was always to go home," says General Manager, Sheralee.
Rather than focusing only on Sandra's immediate care needs, our team worked alongside her, her family, and healthcare providers to support that goal. Our team at Gawler Hillside helped coordinate specialist appointments, supported her through assessments, and connected her with rehabilitation services that could help her regain independence.
Investigations revealed underlying spinal and joint issues affecting her mobility and, following hip surgery in February, Sandra began the long process of rebuilding her strength.
Progress through personalised support
Recovery didn't happen overnight.
In her early days at Gawler Hillside, Sandra spent most of her time in her bedroom and was reluctant to engage with others. Recognising that wellbeing is about much more than physical health, team members adapted activities to suit her needs, bringing companionship, conversation and meaningful engagement directly to her while she regained confidence.
At the same time, physiotherapists and occupational therapists worked closely with Sandra to help her improve her mobility and access the equipment she needed to achieve her goals.
Gradually, small milestones became bigger ones.
Sandra progressed from being fully dependent on others to walking independently around our Care Community.
Finding connection and confidence at Gawler Hillside
The support Sandra received extended beyond physical rehabilitation.
Strong relationships with team members and support from family and friendships with fellow residents all played an important role in helping her feel connected and motivated.
Sandra is now a familiar and welcoming presence at Gawler Hillside. She often visits new residents to see how they're settling in, offering encouragement and companionship. It's a role that would have been hard to imagine when she first arrived.
Reflecting on her journey, Sandra says:
"Thanks to the unwavering support and encouragement of everyone at Gawler Hillside Care Community, I have been given the chance to live the life I always hoped for."
She describes the past year as a second chance; one that has restored not only her mobility, but also her confidence and independence.
"The support I have received is something I feel incredibly lucky to have had, and I will be forever grateful for it."
Returning home with renewed independence
Sandra’s is excited to begin the next chapter with Harriet, and she'll miss the people who have been part of her journey.
"Sandra wanted to give each of our team members individual thank you gifts," says Sheralee. "But we told her that seeing her walk confidently out the door was the only thanks we needed."
Sandra's story reflects the impact that personalised care, focus on wellbeing and meaningful relationships can have on a person's life. By understanding what matters most to each resident and working together towards their goals, aged care can help people live with greater independence, confidence and choice, both now and into the future.
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Commonly asked questions
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Residential aged care can support a person to work towards greater independence through personalised care, access to allied health services, and collaboration with families and healthcare providers. The support available will depend on each person’s health, abilities, circumstances and goals.
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Person-centred care begins with understanding each resident as an individual, including their needs, preferences, abilities, life experiences and personal goals. It involves working alongside the resident, their family and healthcare providers to deliver care and support based on what matters most to them.
For Sandra, person-centred care meant understanding that her goal was to return home to live with her daughter. This goal helped guide her personalised care, rehabilitation and support at Gawler Hillside Care Community.
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Physiotherapy may help residents maintain or improve their movement, strength, balance and mobility. Occupational therapy can support participation in everyday activities and help identify suitable equipment or changes to the environment.
The services and outcomes appropriate for each resident depend on their individual needs and circumstances.
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Recovery can involve more than physical health. Companionship, family support, meaningful activities and positive relationships can help a person feel connected and motivated while working towards their goals.
At Gawler Hillside, team members adapted their approach by bringing companionship, conversation and meaningful engagement directly to Sandra while she rebuilt her confidence.
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When Sandra arrived at Gawler Hillside, she was unable to walk and fully dependent on others for her care. Through rehabilitation and personalised support, she progressed to walking independently around the Care Community and is now preparing to return home to live with her daughter.