If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
Services to keep you independent
Government-funded support
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Government or privately funded
Connect with others
Help to access support services
Personalised care and support
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
Helping everyone adjust
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
All your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Balwyn
Brunswick West
Greensborough
Torquay
Everyone deserves a home
services for 18+
Great places to call home
Reach your developmental goals
Pathways to paid employment
Small group programs
Stay independent at home
Get the best out of your NDIS plan
support for 13-18 year olds
Reach developmental goals
Fun programs for your teenagers
NDIS planning
programs for 0-12 year olds
Support for developmental delays
Fun programs for your kids
A school where your child can shine
About St Paul’s College
Prepare your child for school
View our for school policies
Commited to the safety of your child
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
Blog
→
Ensuring age or ability is no barrier to adventure
Eileen, 86 has always been a determined woman.
A ’10-pound Pom’, Eileen was pregnant with her second child when she arrived in Australia from England in 1958 with her husband Les and her young son.
They called the Brooklyn Migrant Hostel home, which Eileen described as “very grim.” Her young family lived in a Nissen hut, filled with other post-war migrants.
“I didn’t tell my father about our situation,” she laughed, “or he would’ve come over and taken me back home himself! Fortunately, we got along very well with our neighbours.”
Camaraderie is still important to Eileen, which is why she enjoys the lifestyle of her residential village unit in Wantirna, where she and Les lived together until his death in 2011.
“Social connections are very important to me. I’m very lucky to be here as I could still be living at home with no help and nobody around to talk to.”
Eileen has mobility issues, and her vision is affected by Macular Degeneration. She has been supported with a Home Care Package (HCP) from VMCH since 2012. HCPs are government-funded packages of care services designed to help older people remain living at home for longer.
Through her HCP Eileen receives assistance with the cleaning, personal shopping and medical appointments, plus funding for her scooter, walker and Vision Australia aids and equipment. The services and assistance that Eileen receives ensures she remains independent and engaged in her community.
Keeping active is very important to Eileen, she walks where she can for the exercise and regularly swims in the village indoor pool. She is also a regular attendee on the day trips coordinated by the retirement village, as well as local Council funded trips to places such as Werribee Zoo and Mount Martha.
Having the support from her VMCH HCP Case Manager, Rebecca, and the village community is a major factor in maintaining Eileen’s independence.
“Rebecca has organised (the supported assistance and equipment) for me. I am very fond of her. She helps me with the funding depending on what I need. She has done a lot for me, and I know I can contact her if I ever need any help, or if I want something changed.”
Confident in her independence, Eileen also recently travelled to Perth, alone, to meet childhood friends from her hometown of Leek. Despite her health issues, she has no concerns.
“You just have to be determined in life. There are people a lot worse off than me, and you feel sorry for them. There’s no point feeling sorry for yourself, nobody wants to hear that.
“You just have to do it!”
Click here for more information on VMCH’s Home Care Packages.
Website Design & Development by ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.