You are ACE! spotlights

The veteran commentator, whose analysis has shaped business and political debate for more than 50 years, now contributes to The Australian twice a week - down from his previous schedule before a shoulder injury forced him to pause.

“So the brain's okay, but I find when you're writing two pieces a week, you think that's easier, a lot easier, but you actually spend more time on each piece,” he says.

The steady support of a small home care provider on Victoria’s Surf Coast has made that possible over the past year, along with Gottleibsen’s legendary tenacity.

Last winter, life narrowed quickly. Robert’s wife Barbara, 85, underwent leg surgery in Brisbane and spent three weeks in hospital. She had barely returned home to Anglesea when Robert fell while running for a bus, badly injuring his shoulder. He too was hospitalised for three weeks.

They were both recovering and unable to drive.

“We were a bit of a mess,” he says.

They turned to Country to Coast Home Care Services, an organisation that’s remained intentionally small, with just over 20 staff supporting around 90 participants, a scale that allows it to stay close to the people it works with.

For Robert and Barbara, the care from their provider was immediate.

While Robert was still in hospital, staff coordinated Barbara’s wound dressings, arranged transport so she could visit him, and assessed the couple’s home before his discharge. Rails were installed in the shower and toilet. Cleaning and personal care were organised.

“When I came home, most of it was already done,” Robert says. “We wouldn’t have got through it without them.”

For helping Robert get back on the keyboard, and for their personalised care, Country to Coast have been nominated in the Excellence category for Ageing Australia’s national You Are ACE! Awards.

“Home care is vital for many Australians as they age.  It allows them to remain in their homes, close to their communities and lifelong friends. In Robert’s case it helps him to keep writing columns like the ones Australians have been reading for decades,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.

“Home care is not a nice-to-have. It is fundamental to how Australians want to age. People want to remain in their homes, in their communities, close to family and friends.”

“At the moment, demand far outstrips the number of available Support at Home packages. At last count more than 100,000 older Australians were waiting for a package and another 100,000 waiting just to be assessed. We need significantly more packages funded now.”

Lucy Lincoln, who co-founded Country to Coast with partner Curt Schmeissing, says person-centred care has to be real.

“It has to be more than marketing spin,” she says. “People can actually speak to us. We know who they are.”

The experience for Robert and Barbara also exposed the complexity of the aged care system. After a misstep during a My Aged Care assessment, the couple remain without a formal Home Care Package and must reapply.

“I just got so frustrated with the whole thing,” Robert says.

Gradually, their need for support eased. He now drives short distances and continues writing twice a week.

What has stayed with him most is the provider’s responsiveness. During recent bushfire warnings, Country to Coast emailed clients within minutes of official alerts.

“It wasn’t just for us,” he says. “They were looking out for everyone.”

Robert and Barbara want to remain in their Anglesea home for as long as possible. For now, that remains achievable - and each week, Robert is still at his desk.