Lisa Corcoran desperately wants to be able to hug her children again - and to get the hell out of a nursing home.
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The 43-year-old hates being stuck in a residential aged care facility, where she has lived for the last six years.
The wheelchair-bound woman feels isolated, lonely and unsupported.
Her grandchildren are too scared to visit the nursing home because of the screaming and crying.
Ms Corcoran has clear goals for her future.
"My number one goal is to get the f*** out of the nursing home," she told the aged care royal commission, with the help of her speech pathologist Jodie Chard.
"My second goal is to hug my children.
"My third goal is to communicate better."
Ms Corcoran had to fight to be washed more than once a week. She now gets showered every second day.
She now has carers who look after her for 12 hours each day.
Her access to rehabilitation therapy has also been fixed recently.
"But before that it was a nightmare," Ms Corcoran said.
"It's your worst dream ever."
She felt she had no choice when she was moved from hospital into aged care in 2013.
"Who knows what they were thinking. I was only 37 then."
Ms Corcoran is now waiting to move into supported disability accommodation through the NDIS.
"I can't wait. Every day is another day for me. I'm excited."
She continues her physical therapy with the hope of being able to hug her three daughters and her grandchildren.
Ms Corcoran shared her story as the royal commission focuses on younger people in aged care, during a hearing in Melbourne this week.
Her message was clear.
"Everyone in this courtroom is equal.
"We are human, every one of us and humans crave respect and we are all equal.
"I feel like I have lost that respect. I have."
AAP