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Marjorie, a resident at ARV’s Castle Hill retirement community, greatly appreciates the facilities and medical support services available to her onsite.
Marjorie moved to the Castle Hill community in 1995 with her husband Allan; he was terminally ill at the time and wanted to ensure she would be in the safest place possible with quality care readily available if needed.
At the end of last year, after experiencing a fall that resulted in a broken hip, Marjorie was able to move to a higher-care community within the site.
Unfortunately, she fell a second time; following hip replacement surgery, her post-operative treatment includes constant physiotherapy and hydrotherapy - both available onsite.
The Village also has an onsite clinic where minor medical matters are expertly taken care of by experienced nurses. This minimises the need for Marjorie or other residents to consult doctors.
Marjorie’s daughter, Helen, is also greatly reassured by being able to call the Clinic whenever she has concerns about her mother’s condition.
‘I really appreciate the way ARV staff check immediately and let you know’, she says.
‘It’s also very convenient to have all the major health support services in one place. Residents can have their flu shots there… plus there’s a dentist, a podiatrist, a physio and several nurses. Another excellent thing is the Village bus: it picks up people like Mum, who have trouble getting around, and takes them to the onsite clinic, pool or wherever they need to go. It also means I don’t have to take Mum outside the Village for the day-to-day care she would otherwise require.’
In terms of overall lifestyle, Helen says Marjorie especially values the secure feeling she enjoys within the Village.
‘I really think that being here helped her cope a lot better after Dad died. At a time when seemingly simple things (like fallen trees in her neighbourhood) really worried her, she did much better once she came to this secure community’, she added.
‘There’s also the way the grounds are designed: it’s easy to take Mum around. And there’s a very nice barbecue area (extra handy when our family’s children come to visit!), Wills Cafe and its special dinners - and of course, the friendly supportive atmosphere.
‘After her falls, Mum is no longer able to help with Meals On Wheels, the canteen or the listening library - but she is involved in a knitting group that makes squares to be knitted into charitable rugs used in Australia and overseas.
‘It’s good to see her so active and so well looked after. It’s very reassuring indeed.’
Helen, Marjorie’s daughter
