19/10/2026
ELDEN STORY TIME - Mr. and Mrs. Daffodil
“I made a promise to look after your mother. I will not let someone else take care of her.”
Mrs. Daffodil is 72. She and her husband have spent many years together, raising their children in the home they still share today.
But things had changed.
Neither of them was really able to manage independently anymore, and caring for one another had become increasingly difficult.
We were contacted by one of our Sub-acutes and asked to assist with discharge planning for Mrs. Daffodil as she had a terrible fall. Causing lack of mobility and increased a need for care. We needed a plan to ensure she was safe after discharge and that her current needs and care plan will be met.
After meeting with the couple, their children and the multidisciplinary team, it was agreed that home-based care would be the best way forward.
But we still had one important conversation to have with Mr. Daffodil. Accepting help did not mean giving up on his promise to care for his wife.
At first, it sounded like resistance.
But when we sat down with him, we realized something important:
He wasn’t refusing help because he didn’t care.
He was refusing help because he cared so deeply.
Sometimes caring for someone means recognizing when you need to step back, accept support and make sure they are getting the care they need.
After discharge, we completed a home visit to see how they were coping with the change and whether the new arrangement was working for both of them.
Because sometimes social work isn't about finding a solution for someone.
It's about walking alongside a family while they find their way forward.
Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.
