Nancy Brooks says ‘no way’ to aged care as she remains independent at 102
Meet one of Brisbane’s oldest women who is showing age is no barrier to remain independent and baulks at the idea of aged care.
Southeast
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Meet one of Brisbane’s oldest women who is defying the odds and showing age is no barrier as she remains independent despite passing the century mark.
The 102-year-old Nancy Brooks has lived alone at her two-storey Manly West home for more than 26 years and has no plans for her living arrangements to change.
Only relying on a walking frame to get around, the mother-of-two, who also has four grandchildren, baulks at the idea of moving into aged care.
“No way, I wouldn’t want to do that,” Ms Brooks said.
“You get used to living by yourself.
“I try to do as much as I can on my own.”
The walls of her home are plastered with photos of her two sons, Bruce and Jim, four grandchildren and husband Hugh, who died in 1995 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Her sons, who are both in their 70s, both visit their mum at least once a week where they take her to get her groceries as well as a trip to the Wynnum waterfront for a coffee.
And it was that family as well as community support, along with some special help from medical specialists, which allowed Ms Brooks to stay living at home.
“My podiatrist and physio visit me a lot, we’re like old friends now,” Ms Brooks said.
“I couldn’t stay here if I didn’t have support.”
Ms Brooks is also one of many Queenslanders accessing support services, including the installation of stair lifts, so they can remain independent and in the family home.
Simplex Elevators director, Maika Ter Horst, said demand for stair lifts had surged following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s decision to prioritise and fund in-home care services.
Mr Ter Horst said it was amazing services such as stair lifts could help Ms Brooks remain independent.