For Helen, a good life has always involved great people, new experiences and plenty of reasons to laugh.
Now living at Regis Blackburn in Victoria, that hasn’t changed. She keeps active, gets involved in activities and outings and, perhaps most importantly, enjoys the friendships and connections she has made along the way.
A life shared with others
Some of Helen’s fondest memories are of travelling around Australia with her family.
When her children were young, Helen and her husband had a caravan and would take the family away, often heading along the coast and spending time by the sea.
“That was a lovely time for the family,” Helen says.
While she travelled to other places over the years, it’s those family trips she remembers particularly fondly.
Helen’s husband passed away at a young age, but the experiences they shared and the family they raised together remain an important part of her story.
Good company matters
Today, Helen still likes having something to look forward to.
Her days can include exercise, activities, and a few laps around the building, but she says the opportunity to spend time with others is just as important.
“It stops you from being lonely,” Helen says.
She has made friends at Regis Blackburn and enjoys chatting with other residents, employees, and the families who come to visit.
“The people are important and contact with employees is personal” she says.
That extends to getting out and trying something different. On a recent outing aboard Puffing Billy, Helen and her companions made the most of the experience.
“We were dangling outside, laughing like anything,” she says.
Still up for a laugh
For Helen, growing older doesn’t mean giving up the things she enjoys.
There are still places to go, people to meet, conversations to have and plenty to laugh about.
This International Day of Older Persons, Helen’s story is a reminder that ageing doesn’t erase the personality and sense of humour that make someone who they are.
Helen is still Helen. And she’s still up for a laugh.
