After months in hospital, Leilani* had only one wish - to return home to her family.

Living with Parkinson's disease, Leilani experienced a significant decline in her health and spent several months in hospital earlier this year receiving treatment and rehabilitation.

While her recovery was gradual, her determination never faded. Throughout her stay, she remained focused on getting back home to be with the people who mattered most, her husband and daughter.

Erin Shearer, Occupational Therapist at HammondCare’s Braeside Hospital, worked closely with Leilani during her rehabilitation.

"When it came time to plan for her discharge, we realised there were significant challenges to returning home," Erin said.

"Leilani wasn't eligible for government funded support services, and the family simply couldn't afford the equipment she needed to return home safely."

Essential items such as a wheelchair, pressure cushion, and other items were beyond the family's means, yet were critical to supporting Leilani's mobility, safety and independence.

Remembering a colleague's positive experience with the Hammond Foundation Care Fund, Erin submitted an application, hoping there might be a way forward. The Care Fund approved this support and funded the equipment needed to make Leilani's return home possible.

"Without this help from the Foundation’s Care Fund, Leilani and her family's goal of returning home would not have been possible. The multidisciplinary care team would have had to explore alternative discharge destinations," Erin said.

The Care Fund’s impact reaches far beyond the equipment itself. Leilani can now move around her home more safely, attend medical appointments and enjoy greater independence while reducing the burden on her family and carer.

On the morning of her discharge, Erin stopped by to say goodbye.

"Leilani was incredibly emotional and grateful," Erin recalled. "She was holding her hands together in gratitude and was so happy to finally be going home. "It was lovely to see her so excited after spending months away from her family."

Through the Hammond Foundation Care Fund, practical support can arrive at exactly the right moment, helping people like Leilani overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers, regain independence and return to the comfort and dignity of home.

Stories like Leilani’s are becoming increasingly common. HammondCare is receiving more requests for equipment support than ever before as people face complex health challenges and financial pressures. That’s why this year’s Christmas Appeal will support the Care Fund, helping provide life-changing equipment and practical resources for people who need it most. Keep an eye out for the appeal when it launches in November.

* Leilani’s name has been changed for privacy reasons