The importance of caring for our ageing

By Mick Quirk, Board Chairman, The Forrest Centre

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years living and working in Wagga, it’s that a community is only as strong as the way it looks after its people – especially those who’ve spent a lifetime contributing to it.

The older members of our community have contributed so much. They’ve run businesses, volunteered at our sporting clubs, taught in our schools, worked the land and quietly held families together through good times and bad. They carry stories, knowledge and experience that you simply can’t replace.

As we age, life can start to shift in ways we don’t plan. Health changes, mobility slows and the everyday things we once took for granted can become harder. That’s where being in a community like ours really matters. Looking after older people isn’t just about providing services – it’s about dignity, respect and belonging.

That’s why I proudly sit on the Board of The Forrest Centre, as I have for the past 10 years now. At The Forrest Centre, we believe ageing should never mean becoming invisible. Everyone deserves to feel valued, heard and cared for, no matter their stage of life.

Taking care of our ageing community members means creating environments where people feel safe and supported, but also connected – to their families, their friends and the wider community around them. It also means recognising that care looks different for everyone. Some people need a little extra help at home. Others may benefit from the support of residential care or palliative care. What matters most is choice, compassion and the reassurance that help is there when it’s needed.

We’re fortunate in the Riverina to have strong community ties and a long tradition of people looking out for one another. That spirit of locals caring for locals is something we hold dear. It’s what has guided The Forrest Centre for more than 40 years and continues to shape the way we care today.

Taking care of our ageing community members isn’t a responsibility for “someone else” – it belongs to all of us. When we value older people, listen to them and support them to live well, we strengthen our whole community.

It’s important to remind ourselves that one day, each of us will (hopefully) be there too. And the care we give now is the care we should hope to receive in return when our time comes.

For more information about The Forrest Centre’s approach to aged care, head to https://forrestcentre.com.au/welcome