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Margaret Joan Savage has called the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community in Canberra home for 12 years. As her needs have changed, she has been able to increase the care she receives.
“When I first moved to Calvary Haydon I didn’t need any help but, nowadays I need a little extra support,” Ms Savage said.
Each week the Calvary Home Care team visits Ms Savage at her independent living unit, helping with the cleaning and taking her shopping.
“I’m very fussy so I like picking out my own groceries and the lovely support workers who come with me are excellent,” Ms Savage said.
“I’m so happy when I get to see them and I think they’re happy to see me! I always get a big smile.”
Ms Savage made the decision to transition to independent living after her husband died and her second cancer diagnosis.
“I felt I needed to be somewhere safe in case anything happened to me, so I applied to move here. Calvary Haydon was always my first choice,” Ms Savage said.
One of Ms Savage’s favourite aspects of the Calvary Haydon lifestyle is having everything on one site. In addition to receiving support from Calvary Home Care, Ms Savage regularly visits Calvary Haydon Aged Care, which is just next door and a hive of activity.
“I come over to Calvary Haydon Aged Care every Monday morning to help out with the home’s knitting group. I volunteer and help knit blankets, which are donated to those in need. I really enjoy being part of the knitting group,” Ms Savage said.
“There’s also plenty of entertainment there, so I like to come over to the aged care site and enjoy the different events they host. We have a lot of fun and there’s a real sense of community.”
Calvary General Manager Aged Care – Southern NSW and ACT, Ben Williams, said Calvary is enhancing the connected care options available between its retirement living villages with residential aged care and home care.
“It is wonderful to hear how Ms Savage has benefited from the connected care available, as well as the community that has been created by co-locating aged care and independent living,” Mr Williams said.
“By co-locating retirement living, home care and aged care we are able to offer a continuum of care for our residents, clients and patients, ensuring they have the support no matter which stage they are at in life.”
