Dot and Cecil's Journey with Salvos Aged Care

Moving into aged care can be a difficult time, and an experience that Dot and Cecil have had firsthand. After coming home from hospital one day due to a fractured hip, Dot realised it might be time to make a move with a bit more support.

“After a family discussion, our daughter checked out the Riverview Gardens Retirement Village, which we knew of. It was close to our home, and we knew the area well,” recalls Dot.

Dot and Cecil’s first celebration in their new home at Riverview Gardens Retirement Village was on Mother’s Day 2018, and the couple were excited to begin this next chapter of their lives.

“When we moved into Riverview Gardens Retirement Village, we were both so happy. Cecil and I did not want to move at first, but one morning while sitting in the sunshine having a cup of coffee, he said, “You know, we should have done this years ago.” That really made my day to know he was happy here,” Dot recalls.

However, Cecil had been suffering some ill health and shortly after moving into the Village, his health declined and it was advised by the hospital that he would need more care.

During this time, The Salvation Army Aged Care staff helped Dot organise Cecil’s transition from hospital into residential aged care. This included Cecil moving to The Salvation Army’s The Cairns Aged Care Centre for a period as no beds were available at Riverview Gardens Aged Care Centre at the time. He would then move back to Riverview Gardens – to their residential aged care centre and settle in there.

“Thanks to the wonderful team, they arranged it all,” Dot says. “I was informed of all that was happening and kept up to date with developing situations. I could not have gotten through that time without them.”

Much of this took place during COVID-19, making the time more challenging. Throughout this time, Dot and Cecil remained resilient.

“Having support from the same organisation across different services has many advantages,” says Dot. “The staff members get to know you and your needs. The carers become like family and a friendship and trust develops.”

“We had chosen to live at Riverview Gardens hoping that the transition to care would be easier as we moved from the Village,” notes Dot. “It was much easier knowing that I could visit Cecil at any time. He could still be at family gatherings. We lived within Riverview Gardens, only in different areas. As I continue to spend time with Cecil, I know that he is in the right place for his needs.”

The closeness has allowed Dot to get to know the staff and other residents at the Centre very well, along with forming a camaraderie with the staff and residents at the Village.

“I am made to feel most welcome. The residents are beautiful, the residents’ families are friendly, the carers are hardworking, caring, and compassionate. The friendship and the fellowship are great,” says Dot. “We all have our issues and burdens to face but somehow living at Riverview Gardens seems to make those burdens lighter.”