The relationships we share with our families, friends and the wider community are incredibly important, and their value doesn’t diminish as we age.
In fact, they become even more important, supporting our mental health, physical wellbeing and providing vital social interaction that helps prevent isolation.
For many members of the community, getting out to see friends and family becomes more difficult as we age – mobility declines, it becomes harder to get out and about, and home tasks start taking longer to complete. For many couples, changing health needs also means caring responsibilities increase.
This was the experience of Carinity Shalom retirement village resident Beverley Ouston, and her husband Richard.
For Bev, the last few years have seen a lot of change and challenges to overcome. Richard was diagnosed with dementia. For Bev, taking on the role of carer came naturally. Over the next few years, Bev found herself juggling the demands of caring for Richard, while also managing the ongoing maintenance of their family home, and the logistics of keeping up with the household.
As Richard’s health declined, and the challenges increased, the decision was made for him to enter aged care. However, for Richard, the move wasn’t as smooth as the family had hoped.
“It was taking a lot to care for Richard, and we decided he would be safer in care,” Bev explained. “It became obvious that his original aged care home wasn’t working for him.”
The family made the decision to change their plans again, and Bev decided to bring Richard home. For a few months, they managed together at home, but as Richard’s health declined further, the decision was made to sell.
“We owned a high set home, and there was a lot of maintenance that I just couldn’t keep up with,” Bev said.
“We bought into the retirement village at Shalom in April 2024, and it was the best decision,” said Bev, adding that Shalom’s welcoming country feel was a big attraction.
“I’m from the country, and it feels like home. It’s so peaceful, and the lake and the birds are so beautiful. There’s even a little family of ducks!”
Making the move took an enormous weight of responsibility from Bev, allowing her to spend more time caring for herself and Richard.
“Not having to worry about property maintenance and mowing was a big relief,” she said.
About six months after Bev and Richard moved in, the family made the decision to move Richard into Shalom’s residential aged care community as his declining mobility meant Bev was no longer physically able to care for Richard safely within the home.
This time, Richard’s move into residential aged care was more successful, both for him and for Bev.
“The Carinity team were very helpful in arranging to get Richard into care,” Bev said. “They were very kind helping him settle in and getting to know him.”
Living in a low maintenance villa means Bev is able to spend more of her time with her husband. The closeness means they’re able to join in the aged care community’s social activities together, and they often share mealtimes.
“I visit twice a day. It’s a short walk from my villa up to Richard. Being able to stay so closely connected has been a relief,” Bev explains.
Bev has also built wonderful friendships with other residents in the retirement village, attending as many social events as possible within the community. Being able to duck next door to share a cuppa and a chat has been a welcome addition to her regular routine.
It’s a sentiment shared by fellow residents, with a recent survey showing that everyone in the community felt that their overall happiness and life satisfaction had improved since moving to Shalom.
Now well and truly settled into their new homes, Bev has no regrets. From the friendships she’s made within the retirement village through to the close relationships she’s formed with Richard’s care team in aged care, her opinion is clear: “Shalom has been a blessing.”
