PUBLIC KEEPS NAOMI OUT OF NURSING HOME /by KEN McGREGOR
17/12/2013
Published by the Adelaide Advertiser, page 9
KEN McGREGOR PEOPLE power has helped save 44-year-old Naomi Clarke from being relocated into a nursing home against her will. A 62,000-signature petition collected on change.org was yesterday handed to Premier Jay Weatherill calling for him to step in and endorse funding for full-time at-home care rather than have her moved to a nursing home. As first reported by Advertiser.com.au last week, Mrs Clarke faced being relocated from the family home she shares with her husband, Paul, because of mounting debt. Mrs Clarke has been wheelchair-bound since a botched operation when she was five. Her health has worsened, causing her to require care of more than 60 hours the threshold for at-home government-provided care. “It is fantastic to know that there are so many people out there who are behind me,” Mrs Clarke said. “It makes me feel that my life is worth something more than just a dollar figure.” After receiving the petition yesterday, Mr Weatherill said he would find a way to keep Mrs Clarke at her Beverley home with paid support. He will also set up a meet- ing with Mrs Clarke and Disabilities minister Tony Piccolo. Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent said it was unfortunate Mrs Clarke had to raise 62,000 signatures just to remain at home. “We need to fix this so that people living with disabilities are afforded basic human rights, such as the ability to remain in their own home,” Mrs Vincent said. “It’s a social and economic responsibility because, as I understand it, it would cost more to keep her in a nursing home than it would to keep at her own home.” She called on the State Government to ensure people were assessed on a case-by-case basis and funding released to ensure more suitable accommodation is provided for younger people with disabilities PEOPLE POWER: Naomi and Paul Clarke in the city yesterday after they handed a petition to Premier Jay Weatherill, below. Pictures: CALUM ROBERTSON
