Quadruple amputee Jason Miller who survived deadly infection could end up in nursing home
Northern beaches dad Jason Miller, 49, who has spent the last 12 months in hospital after surviving a life-threatening infection, could be forced to move into a nursing home.
Manly
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A year after Jason “Buddy” Miller nearly died from an infection which resulted in the loss of his hands and feet, the single father could be forced to move into a nursing home because there is nowhere else for him to go.
Mr Miller, 49, said he was ready to leave Mona Vale Hospital’s rehabilitation unit two months ago — where he has been learning how to adapt to life as a quadruple amputee — but there is no suitable accommodation available.
Before his illness, Mr Miller was renting an apartment in Queenscliff. Due to his lengthy stay in hospital, he no longer rents that unit.
It was suggested he apply for a place at a boarding house for disabled people in Ryde, where there is no room for his daughter Jhayda, 8, to stay and who goes to school in Manly.
It’s also more than an hour away from family and friends by public transport.
Next week he is to be assessed for his suitability to move into a nursing home.
“I just want to get on with my life and be a good dad to my daughter,” Mr Miller, said.
“I’ve been busting my balls to walk again so I can give my daughter a better life.”
Mr Miller is planning on applying for one of four units for people with a disability in Mona Vale.
He said the two-bed unit would be perfect for him and his daughter, who he shares custody of, although he is not sure how he would pay for the second bedroom out of his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding.
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Currently his occupational therapy report is being re-done after it graded him as being “more able” than he actually is.
He said he hoped that would ensure he gets more funding for accommodation and he can then apply.
Mr Miller needs wheelchair access, as he swaps between wheels and his prosthetic legs, and carer support for bathing, personal care and cooking.
The former Manly ferry worker qualifies for specialist disability accommodation.
He said the Mona Vale property is the only SDA accommodation on the peninsula currently available.
“Mentally I’ve been strong throughout everything that has happened in the last 12 months, but this has cracked me,” he said.
“Some days I’m just not myself. I don’t want to talk to anyone.
“At the moment I am looking at having to move into a nursing home until there is something else available.”
The paperwork process has been difficult to negotiate and he said every single little thing takes two to three weeks to get done.
And he has tried various routes to getting himself accommodation, but come back round to where he started.
“It is a bureaucratic nightmare,” he said. “I am in limbo.”
Mr Miller was lauded by the doctors and nurses at Northern Beaches Hospital who said his positivity in the face of severe disability caused by sepsis was inspiring.
At his sickest, doctors thought he had less than one per cent chance of surviving.
Since getting used to his new legs, he has challenged himself by taking part in several fun runs.
He’s also remained upbeat about the outcome of all his worldly possessions which were in the Brookvale storage unit affected by the fire. He’s still hoping the items can be saved.
He also plans to forge a new career in public speaking.
A spokesman for the National Disability Insurance Agency said it was not a direct provider of SDA, but provides funding for eligible participants to access SDA which may include funding for assistance in finding the right housing option for their needs.
It said the NDIS acknowledges there is a longstanding history of undersupply of suitable SDA in Australia and is working to encourage the market to expand the supply of suitable accommodation.
“The NDIA will continue to work with Mr Miller to ensure he has appropriate funding for the housing supports he needs,” the spokesman said.