Getting Out and About: Respect Residents Welcome Winter in Style

Pictured above: Lyrebird Village residents pay a special visit to the unique retro-themed home.

The skies may be getting gloomy and the mornings feel more chilly, but our residents never let the winter weather dampen their spirits—especially when it comes to getting out and about and enjoying a busy calendar of fun and festive activities.

Across our many aged care communities, we know how important a vibrant and engaging calendar of activities and events can be for well-being. So, at every one of our homes, dedicated staff curate a wide range of hobbies and pastimes, get-togethers, and celebrations to encourage participation and inclusion and give our residents an opportunity to connect with one another—as well as other locals across the community—in a memorable way.

For example, winter sure hasn’t stopped our residents at Bayview Haven, in Portland, Victoria. On a regular basis, they’ve been rugging up and venturing across the region as part of a program run by the team at Cycling Without Age.

A volunteer-led organisation, the group provides free bike rides to people throughout the community who may have limited mobility, helping them reconnect with the outdoors and say hello to local friends and family across the region in a safe and meaningful way.

The activity has quickly become a favourite for residents—and what an amazing way to soak in the picturesque Portland surrounds!

Elsewhere in Victoria, our Lyrebird Village community was recently invited to pay a special visit to the unique home of one of our resident’s lovely family members (Loraine and John, who are the sister and brother-in-law of resident Joy).

Our residents were simply in awe as they entered the couple’s fantastic home, with some commenting it was like “stepping back in time”. Loraine and John had poured years of time and creativity into building their quirky abode, driven by John and his penchant for retro treasure and Loraine’s passion for music.

Complete with rock ’n’ roll vibes, bright colours, and quirky artifacts tucked into every corner, our residents loved exploring every nook and cranny. There was so much to see and chat about, and of course a delicious afternoon tea to top it off.

In Tasmania, residents at Wellington Views in Old Beach made a milestone journey of their own—joining in with the local community to mark the recent opening of the Bridgewater Bridge. Crossing the famous Derwent River, the new bridge replaces the old construction from the 1940s—representing the state’s largest ever transport infrastructure project.

Of course, residents made a day of the bus trip… purposely taking the scenic route there and back and fitting in a very relaxed lunch at a nearby tavern (a local favourite!)

Across the state, our residents at Mt St Vincent in West Ulverstone also recently enjoyed a wonderful day out with good food and even better company! An excited group was over the moon to visit the popular Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Café. And as they filled their bellies with delicious local produce, they were treated with a burst of wintery sunshine too—the perfect way to end a splendid lunch with friends, new and old.

But of course, just as much as our residents love spending time in the local community, like all of us, they equally look forward to a good, cosy night in… especially during the colder evenings. And nothing says winter nights like footy—something you sure don’t have to remind our Cooinda residents about!

With the recent NSW vs. QLD State of Origin match gluing sports fans across the country to their TV screens, our residents proudly donned their colours and got involved in some armchair fandom too. And the fun and frivolities didn’t just stop and start with the big game either; everyone eagerly took part in several friendly contests and competitions to get in the true state-of-origin spirit!