Forrest Community Services helps Val lead a full life

At-home care helps Val live a full life

Val Donnelly says ageing is a privilege that is creeping up on her.

While she can’t believe she is 94, Val is determined to continue living a full life as long as possible from her home in central Wagga, gladly accepting at-home support to see it happen.

For Val, living a full life looks like weekly card games with friends, going to the races as a lifetime member of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC), regularly walking, pottering in her garden, a daily dose of TV quiz shows, constant visits with her children and very occasional but much-loved visits with her grandchildren (and soon to be great grandchildren) when they are in town. Once upon a time it also included teaching, volunteering at Meals on Wheels, playing golf at the Country Club and owning horses with her late husband, John. It does not include cleaning.

“I’ve never liked housework. Of course, I do it, but I’ve always had a private cleaner too, so I was okay with getting someone in to help with cleaning as part of my Home Care Package. I am certainly not one of those people who feels like they have to be cleaning as well while the helper is here.”

Val has been a customer of Forrest Community Services for about 10 years now and says that she originally didn’t think she needed the help but as time went on, she saw the advantages. Val gets assistance with household tasks for an hour a week and a gardener every fortnight. It was her love of gardening and encouragement from her children that prompted her to first enquire about at-home care.

“My kids suggested I could get help because they could see that it could make things easier. I’m very independent and I like gardening, but I decided I did want a gardener because I have a big garden and, with me becoming blind, it was starting to get a bit much to do it the way I like it.

“It really has been a very good help. It has allowed me to keep doing the things I like in the garden and all the other things I love outside of the house, too.

“I feel lucky that I have help at home. I think it’s just like the hearing aids I wear or the help I get for my eyesight – like the cards with big numbers on them, or my ‘bible’ the iPad which makes things bigger for me to see. Originally when my family bought it for me, I couldn’t see that I’d use it but now I can’t live without it. I think I will continue to get whatever at-home help I can whenever I reach the stage that I can see a benefit. I want to stay at home as long as possible.”

If you think now is the right time for you to explore at-home care options contact Aged Care Solutions for free information and advice. Call 02 6932 3009.