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Tom and Karen

Tom is a very intelligent, sensitive and polite man. He has a broad range of interests. He loves art and has had quite an extensive personal collection. As a young man, he found it difficult to manage many of life’s responsibilities. He became hospitalised and has lived a major portion of his life in a psychiatric hospital.

Tom and Karen met about seven years ago. Not long after meeting they discovered that they came from the same area, used to ride their bikes around the same streets and knew some of the same people. When Karen’s family first came to Brisbane, Tom’s father was the family’s pharmacist. Karen enjoys Tom’s company and his conversation. They laugh a lot together.

Karen has continued visiting Tom and at the moment visits him about once every three weeks. Tom is very isolated and has very few unpaid people in his life. Tom’s father used to visit him every week when Karen first knew Tom, but over the years both his father and mother have died. Tom has a brother who doesn’t live very far away but who only occasionally visits. Karen finds it hard to think of someone living a secluded life for most of their life.

Whilst living in hospital Tom has experienced many losses. One such small loss happened quite recently. Tom was moved to a different ward. In the process of the move he lost many of his personal possessions. He was told that there was nothing that could be done about this and he wasn’t given any compensation.

Tom is very anxious about going away from the hospital and so for a long time they would spend Karen’s visits at the hospital. Over time Tom began going out with Karen. They have visited coffee shops, shopping centres and garden shops.

For years Karen has wanted Tom to come to her home and share a meal. Eventually, less than a year ago Tom agreed. Tom has only been to Karen’s home a few times; some times they have had lovely times together and at other times Tom has not seemed comfortable. Karen has found that when the staff members encourage Tom he finds it easier to go out with her. Karen has also introduced one of her neighbours to Tom and she has joined them for lunch.

Karen has made a long-term commitment to Tom. She has done this because they share some common history. She has seen him grow and wants to encourage him to further expand his life experience. Karen believes that she is doing something very valuable.