Making the move out of the family home into a care apartment is a significant life change, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of your independence.

Patricia moved into her Glengara Care apartment at Tumbi Umbi a little over a year ago. She enjoys the security of knowing she has help on hand if she needs it while retaining her independence and privacy.

“I did not want to go into a nursing home. I worked most of my life, and I always wanted to be independent,” she said. “This is assisted living. You can come and go as you like and it’s your apartment. It does make a difference.”

Making the move

Her daughter’s plan to go on an extended overseas trip prompted Patricia to consider moving from the family home. While she was managing okay, she was concerned about what would happen if she had a fall or became ill while her daughter was away.

“My daughter and son-in-law were booked to go overseas for three months, and if I had a fall while they were away, I wouldn’t know what to do. Of course, it didn’t happen anyway because of COVID, but I made the decision then. I thought it was better because they were both retired and they like to travel, and at least they would know I’m safe. I’ve got someone here if I need help.”

Patricia said it was important that she decided when she would move.

“I didn’t want it to come to that my daughter had to make the decision for me,” she said. “Because I imagine it would be difficult for her to have to decide when Mum is ready for assisted living or a nursing home. I didn’t want her to be faced with that.”

Care manager Suzanne Bosworth said the Glengara Care difference was the flexibility around the services and support available to residents. The model of care is led by a team of registered nurses and is flexible, providing a high standard of care that caters to low, high and end-of-life needs, along with the freedom and autonomy of choosing when the care is delivered.

“It’s independent living but with care provided as the residents require it. It’s all about what the residents want and when they want it. When people move in, they may not require any assistance at all – they may just want to know that there are people around ready to help if they need it,” she said.

“But if you do need it, you have access to nursing home level care without living in a nursing home. In a traditional model of care, it’s so tough if one partner needs a higher level of care. Because we cater for all needs, couples can continue to live together at Glengara Care.”

Help to stay independent

Glengara Care apartments are located within the established Glengara Retirement Village and offer a separate bedroom, ensuite, lounge, dining area, kitchenette and outdoor space.

A professional chef prepares meals, and staff are on hand 24 hours a day to provide an unmatched level of tailored care.

Residents can access all of the village facilities, including an expansive garden, bowling green, gym, café, bar, pool, library, beauty salon and more.

“There are lovely walking areas to walk around, and I go out with my daughter or friends at least two or three times a week,” Patricia said.

“You can come and go as you like, have whatever friends there you like, or if you don’t feel like being social, you don’t have to.  Now I love being able to walk straight out from my apartment and through to the car park. My youngest daughter and I go to the movies, and it’s great. She just drives in, I walk out, and off we go.”

While Patricia cherishes her independence, she also enjoys the advantages that come with her apartment.

“I must admit I really didn’t want to cook anymore. Most of my life, I’ve cooked for the family, and I was sick of it. I didn’t miss not cooking, not in the least.

“The chef is lovely. We have a residents meeting once a month, and he always attends; and he asks us if there are any changes we would like to make to the menu. He’s always happy to do what he can to assist. All of the staff are very helpful and are an asset to Glengara Care.

More than clinical care

Glengara Care focuses on the whole person – which means providing support for resident’s mental, emotional and social well-being, not just physical and medical needs.

“We provide care – but shape it to what our clients want,” Suzanne said. “Most people want to retain their independence. Living with care available shouldn’t minimise their choices. For instance, we may have clients who have spent their lives working on a farm, so they have always had a shower in the evening. So we work with their preferences and provide the care and support they want when they want it.”

“We also have an amazing lifestyle assistant who has designed a lifestyle calendar for our residents. In fact, I really noticed a difference in the mood around the place when she took a week off. It’s her personality – she is wonderful at connecting and engaging with our residents. The staff here are amazing. They treat the residents as part of the family and are very caring and engaging.”

Find out more

Call our helpful team on 1800 955 070 or 

Visit glengaracare.com.au

When considering the next chapter, perhaps the biggest consideration of all is whether your loved one will ever really feel at home again. Well, unfortunately, in many traditional aged care settings the answer is no.

The term ‘aged care’ may bring some preconceived ideas to mind. Traditional care can feel very clinical. Bright lights, understaffed, shared bathrooms, unlockable doors and lino two thirds of the way up the wall. It’s easy to feel unsafe and forgotten.

There’s often no option to bring your own furniture, no ability to bring pets, no guarantee couples will be close by or even in the same facility, and little choice when it comes to how and when care needs are attended to.

1. Dignity to choose a life on your terms

Glengara Care was conceived and constructed with quality of life and the wellbeing of residents as its core philosophy. This means Glengara Care residents can:

• Move in as a couple
• Bring their own furniture
• Bring pets
• Cook their own meals (if they choose)
• Have family and friends visit and stay
• Lock their door
• Choose the care they want, and when they want it

It’s designed to feel like home, a place where health and wellbeing can improve and where privacy, dignity and independence are valued.

2. Staff to resident ratios

Perhaps the major concern for seniors and their families about aged care is that it is a clinical environment with inadequate staff to resident ratios.

Glengara Care heralds a new standard of private aged care unlike anything else available in NSW by delivering an unmatched level of tailored care, as well as the freedom for residents to maintain their independence.

The difference at Glengara Care is a model led by a team of registered nurses and an emergency response team on site 24 hours a day, so residents not only have the security of knowing the highest level of care is always on call, but also the comfort of being able to make it their home in every sense of the word.

We have the highly trained staff and specialist equipment necessary for the individualised care of our residents to allow the freedom and independence they deserve. If a resident wants to be woken and supported to dress and shower at 11am instead of 8am for example, they can. The same goes for linen, cleaning and supporting health services. We work with our residents and build their needs into a personalised care plan, and deliver care in a way that’s right for them.

3. Surrounded by a thriving community

Glengara Care is nestled within the existing and thriving Glengara Retirement Village. The retirement village is well established, has beautiful grounds, a wonderful array of facilities, a thriving community and an active social calendar. In addition to quality and varied meals, these are all vital ingredients to aging well and help provide our residents with real and tangible health benefits.

The well-being of our residents is our number one priority. That’s why we complement our high level, nurse-led model of care with regular opportunities for social connection and fun. Residents can spend their days out and about, enjoying the excellent village amenities and social activities and engaging socially if they choose.

Experience the difference every day

The peace of mind of having access to high level care, the comforts of home, social connection and the autonomy to live life to the fullest is what older Australians deserve. The transition to higher support is a challenging time, but the certainty, choice and care offered at Glengara Care makes things easier.

If you are interested in learning more about Glengara Care, contact our team on 1800 955 070 or enquire online to arrange a visit and see the difference for yourself.

Raising the topic of aged care with a loved one can be a difficult conversation. While they may wish to remain as independent as possible, you have seen their health decline and are becoming increasingly worried about their safety and wellbeing. You may be thinking it’s time to talk.

With care assessments, confusing financials, emotional turmoil and challenging health conditions swirling around, the whole topic can seem overwhelming. To add to the challenge, many people don’t want to talk about aged care. It’s seen as the end of the road where life is no longer lived. You don’t have to look far to find an unpleasant aged care story.

Parents want to keep their independence, while family members want what is best for their loved ones. Unfortunately this stops us talking about aged care as an option until it becomes too late. Until it is forced upon us due to sudden, unforeseen circumstances.

Help them choose their future while they are still in control

If you’ve ever had someone make a decision on your behalf without consent it can feel as if control of your own life has been taken from you.

Trying to navigate aged care options is hard enough; it’s even harder when you are facing an unforeseen health crisis. Having a plan for the future gives your loved one ownership of their life and peace of mind that no matter what happens next, everyone is on the same page.

A sad, but all too common occurrence is when everything is seemingly OK until out of the blue your elderly family members have a fall or their health takes a turn for the worse. It’s clear that they are no longer able to take care of themselves in their own home and they need assistance. The family is forced into making a snap decision. Due to the complexity of finances, time pressure, heightened emotions and logistics the best outcome is rarely achieved.

To help avoid this terrifying situation, it is important to talk about care options  together, especially before something drastic happens and the choice is taken out of the family’s hands. Having a conversation while everyone is able to, is a better way to make decisions about the future that both you and your loved one are happy with. Talking sooner rather than later increases your loved one’s independence and agency over the decision – after all, it should be theirs to make.

“I didn’t want it to get to the point where my daughter had to make the decision for me. I wanted to take that off her. It’s difficult for them to have to decide when Mum is ready for care or a nursing home. I didn’t want her to be faced with it. I wanted to make the decision. – Glengara Care resident.

Signs it could be time to talk

Knowing when is just as important as knowing how to have a conversation about aged care. Taking note of changes in behaviours can indicate when some extra care and support could be a welcome change. Some pattern to be aware of include:

Age – once your loved one is nearing the age of 80, it’s a good time to start thinking about the next steps. Not everyone will need aged care, but it’s important to have a closer look at how well your elderly loved one can look after themselves.

Isolation – now more than ever we have seen the health risks associated with isolation and loneliness. If your loved ones seem unnaturally tired, withdrawn or demotivated about the things that used to excite them, they may be suffering from loneliness and depression.

Falls – as we age mobility issues become more common. The surfaces and spaces in our homes (bathrooms, stairs) become unsafe and unsuitable for an older person’s abilities. If there has been a fall, concerns can arise around calling for help, serious injury, decreased confidence and movement.

Declining health – once your loved one’s health starts to decline and they are unable to confidently attend to their own needs, it may be a sign that they need extra care and support. Some examples of declining health could be decreased mobility, poor memory, wandering or poor eating habits.

Ability to care for themselves – is your loved one able to cook, clean, garden, shower and carry out their normal activities and chores without assistance? You may notice things around the house not being tended to like they have been.

Conversation starters

Of course, there is no perfect time to broach this topic, however a calm moment when your loved one is relaxed and open-minded can be a good place to start.

Being too direct and jumping in can unnecessarily heighten tensions. If you believe it is the right time to have a conversation about the future, here are some questions to help prompt discussion and surface concerns:

• What types of things could we support you with right now?
• If something happened to you and we weren’t nearby, what would you do?
• What do you think we should do if you get to an age where you can’t look after yourself anymore?
• Do you see yourself ever moving into a community that provides extra care and support?
• Does the idea of needing extra care concern you?

Frame the conversation from the outset and be clear to everyone involved that this is just an exploratory conversation, with the aim of bringing about peace of mind – no one is making any decisions today.

Don’t be disheartened if the idea of aged care is not well received or even rejected at first. This chapter of life – where health, care and independence intersect – is an emotionally charged and difficult time, and will likely involve a series of conversations and objections.

Why Glengara Care is a genuine alternative to aged care on the Central Coast

Traditional aged care is not a place people want to end up. Often the move is seen as a loss. Partly this is due to the fact that in traditional aged care facilities there’s often no option to bring your own furniture, no ability to bring pets, no guarantee couples will be close by (or even in the same facility), and little choice when it comes to how and when care needs are attended to. Independence and a sense of self start to become lost in the system.

Common objections to traditional aged care:

• Loss of independence
• Loss of identity
• Fear of communal living
• Loss of privacy
• Fear of mistreatment

That’s what I felt. I didn’t want to go into a nursing home. That was my main concern. I worked most of my life and I always wanted to be independent. – Glengara Care resident.

Addressing these concerns makes Glengara Care a breath of fresh air. Designed with quality of life and the wellbeing of residents as its core philosophy Glengara Care is a genuine alternative to aged care.

The care team is led by registered nurses, so residents at Glengara Care not only have the security of knowing the highest level of care is always available, but also the comfort of being able to make it their home in every sense of the word. This means residents can:

• Move in as a couple
• Bring their own furniture
• Bring pets
• Cook their own meals (if they choose)
• Have family and friends visit and stay
• Lock their door
• Choose the care they want, and when they want it

Chief Operations Officer Simon Fawssett, sums up the promise of Glengara Care, one that encourages residents to live life their way, with health, support, purpose and connection:

“What we’ve created is a home – not a bedroom – and a community in which people feel like they’re part of a family… All too often, moving into aged care symbolises a chapter of life ending. A lot of the cherished moments – such as hosting family for a Sunday afternoon roast, hobbies and the things you’ve always done – just aren’t possible anymore in an aged care environment. At Glengara Care, we don’t think this has to be the way. Just because your care needs change, the way you live your life doesn’t need to as well.”

Where to from here?

RetireAustralia has helped thousands of Australians find a home that’s right for them both today and in the future. While it’s not always a pleasant conversation to have, with the right tools, support and timing, the next chapter can be driven by choice and independence.

One of the best ways to see if Glengara Care is right for your loved ones is to encourage them to take a tour and meet with some residents. Glengara Care also offers short-term respite care, which can be a good way to experience everything on offer before making the move. You can book a tour here or call 1800 955 070 to speak with one of our caring team.

Ageing should not be about losing control, but about proactively keeping it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us along the journey.

Margaret reflecting on her decision to move to Tea Tree Gardens

As an organised and self-sufficient individual, moving from her family home on a large block in Hope Valley was not part of her plan. But a series of unexpected events caused Margaret to reconsider.

The turning point  |  Doing the math
Home is where the heart is  |  A support network  |  Life goes on

After nursing her husband Kevin for four years, she made the tough decision that he move into a nursing home so he could have around the clock care.

“He is my world and I would do anything for him. These days he’s not in a good place – he has dementia and is unsteady on his feet. But he is still with me which I’m grateful for.” said Margaret.

The turning point

With Kevin in a nursing home and her four children living on the other side of Adelaide and interstate, Margaret started thinking about her own future.

Her eyesight was deteriorating and she had recently had major surgery, so she was pragmatic about the possibility of needing more support in the future.

“The big house was lonely and was echoing around me. I was burdened with maintenance and gardening and thinking about what might happen to me.” she said.

Margaret weighed up leaving her beloved family home with wanting a future on her own terms.

Tea Tree Gardens Retirement Village was in her local suburb and a short walk from Kevin’s nursing home. It was also close to a hospital, shopping centre and other facilities she used. So she rationalised that if she did move into the village her life would mostly continue as is.

Margaret had also heard that home care services were available in the village. Given what had happened with Kevin, this was an important consideration. She wanted to know she would be cared for by people she knew and trusted if she became unwell.

But she really didn’t want to leave her family home of 40 years.

One day, after seeing Kevin at the nursing home, she plucked up the courage to visit the village.

She speaks fondly of her first meeting with the Village Manager, Lucy.

“Her concern, her generosity, and her care to help me shift from a big home with lots of memories into something that had no memories – it was incredible,” Margaret said.

Doing the math

Margaret was also apprehensive about the cost of living in a retirement village. She put Lucy through her paces, asking numerous questions about the ingoing, ongoing, and outgoing fees.

“I added up all the costs that I was going to have to pay by being in a village and I found that they were not as extensive as maintaining my own home,” said Margaret.

The next hurdle was selling the family home. Initially, Margaret had concerns about not getting a good price for it and then not being able to get into the village.

However, as most retirement village properties are priced at 80% of the median local house price, the sale of Margaret’s family home covered the ingoing cost of moving into the village with ample capital left over to fund a comfortable retirement.

Home is where the heart is

Margaret and Kevin had saved and worked hard to build their family home on a corner block over 40 years ago. It held many happy memories of precious time spent together raising two sons and a daughter and then welcoming seven grandchildren into the world.

Margaret loved her family home and was very upset about leaving it. But with several health concerns, she knew that she had to act decisively to stay in control of her own life.

 “When I drove out past the front of our home, I never looked back. I kept thinking, it’s only a building.

The memories we have made in that building, and in that yard, are in my heart and in my head. I will always have them” she said.

Margaret was pleasantly surprised by the size and layout of the homes in the village.  As an avid quilter, space to pursue her hobby was important so she opted for one of the bigger homes with a spare bedroom, an attached garage, and plenty of storage.

While downsizing was a huge challenge, which Margaret tackled all on her own, she’s very content with her home in the village. She has converted the garage and the spare room into sewing spaces and has three cupboards brimming with fabric.

A support network

Margaret is matter-of-fact about her health. She’s had major surgery and her eyesight isn’t what it used to be.

She’s already used the PERS (short for Personal Emergency Response Service) button in her home in the village. She wasn’t feeling at all well, and Lucy sat with her until the ambulance arrived. Margaret wonders how things would have turned out if she had been on her own at home.

Since Margaret has been at Tea Tree Gardens, Jemma from the Home Care team  has also helped her get a Level 2 Home Care Package.

“Jemma was so helpful and supportive in taking me through all the paperwork which I found overwhelming. I couldn’t have done it without her,” said Margaret.

Margaret now gets her house cleaned and her meals delivered. Also, given her eyesight, she has the option of getting someone to drive her to appointments.

Life goes on

Family is everything to Margaret. Kevin is the love of her life, and with her children having flown the nest, her routine centres around making the three-minute walk to visit her husband as often as she can.

Since moving into the village Margaret has kept in touch with her friends of many years and also made a few new ones. In fact, one of her former neighbours, and a fellow quilter, has now moved into the community and joined their village quilting group.

Margaret enjoys a daily walk in the safe and beautiful surrounds of the village gardens and while she mostly keeps to herself, she enjoys saying hello to her neighbours and sharing a yarn from time to time.

“Living in this village has really not changed my lifestyle a great deal. We’ve always lived in Hope Valley and I’ve just been able to carry on.
I have never, ever regretted it.” she says.

Find a community where your life can go on the way you want it to

Flight for fun

The Glengowrie Retirement Village residents haven’t found a loophole in Australia’s border closures, instead Village Manager, Debbie Dean, created an around the world trip through a little bit of imagination and a lot of cardboard and crepe paper.

The Flight for Fun event transformed the village’s community centre into a boarding lounge, complete with a ‘Retire Air’ plane, offering all the perks of travel, including complimentary champagne, hot towel service and duty free.

On booking their trip, residents receive a very detailed travel pack, including a passport, travel itinerary, boarding passes, and immigration forms.

Lifting residents spirits

“The residents think I’m a bit crazy – but everyone has a lot of fun,” Debbie said. “These events are important to lift everyone’s spirits.”

Outlandish events are quite normal at Glengowrie, with Debbie and the team spending hours creating concepts and props to make each occasion memorable.

“I do a lot of big events for my residents. We’ve had all sorts of things like casino nights, a mock wedding, the Olympic Games and the Logies.

“I held an event with flights to London, Rome and Paris for each course of a meal a few years ago, and a lot of residents were asking if we could do it again.  This time we’re off to Cairo, Auckland and Athens.”

Retire Air ready for boarding

On arrival at the community centre, residents produced their special passports and boarding passes to make it onto Retire Air.

Onboard everyone received first class treatment and experienced all the usual flight features – except the leg cramping and long-haul flight times Australians are used to.

“They’ll be much quicker flights. After all, we’re flying from Cairo to Auckland between entrees and the main course,” Debbie said.

“Even going through customs is fun with our residents; they can get very creative with their occupations on their immigration declaration forms.”

Creating engaging community events

Glengowrie Retirement Village resident Jean Mahood said she was looking forward to the event – which was booked out.

“It’s absolutely fantastic what Debbie organises for us,” Jean said. “She puts such an effort into all the bits and pieces she creates to make each event special.”

Jean said Glengowrie’s residents were drawn together by the fantastic events created by Debbie.

“I’ve only been here two years but I’m sorry I didn’t make the move her years ago. There is so much to do with the different classes and events and activities – you actually have to look hard to find the free days in your diary.”

Home cooks can now get a taste of Glengara Care’s fine-dining dishes, thanks to a recipe book compiled by executive chef Craig Etches.

The book features Glengara Care residents’ top 10 favourite recipes, including Moroccan spiced lamb pizza, lemon thyme barramundi, Thai yellow bean prawn curry and slow cooked beef wellington.

Each recipe in the book reflects Craig’s mission to offer residents dishes that could hold their own at any of the Central Coast’s fine dining establishments.

“I try to inject as much flavour as possible into every meal,” he said. “I like to use what we have on hand, what is in season, and what’s available from the Glengara vegetable gardens.”

Making mealtime enjoyable

Glengara Care has developed a reputation for providing delicious, healthy meals, that would be more at home in a restaurant than on a traditional aged care menu.

The quality of the food is one of the foremost concerns of older Australians and their families when they consider aged care facilities. Care manager Suzanne Bosworth said Glengara Care had focused on flipping traditional notions about food for retirees.

“Mealtimes here are such a huge part of our residents’ days – for both the food and the chance to join everyone else in the dining room,” she said.

“It’s so important that each meal is appealing. Every resident here has nothing but positive feedback about the food. I’ve eaten the occasional meal and it really is restaurant quality food, that you enjoy eating.”

As the executive chef, Craig makes a point to get out of the kitchen and talk to the residents about what they like and what they would like to see added to the menu. Suggestions can be put to a vote and even adjusted to cater for residents with special dietary conditions.

The residents were also asked to contribute to the recipe book by sharing their favourite meals.

Cooking the book

For Craig, compiling a recipe book was a bit of a challenge requiring exact measurements and some alterations.

“I cook by feel, I don’t usually use a recipe. I’ve been doing this for 25 years now, so I know what is going to work well together. I had to dig up some of my old books and actually write down how much of this and how much of that,” he said.

“Of course there is also a difference between what we can do in a professional kitchen and the number of serves being prepared. Glengara Care has done a great job with the kitchens here. We have the Ferrari of kitchen ovens and amazing tools that allow us to use different cooking techniques to prepare lots of meals – so there were a few changes required to adapt my recipes for use in the standard kitchen.”

What home cooks can easily emulate is Craig’s commitment to creating healthy meals bursting with flavour.

“There are some considerations when it comes to preparing our meals. It has to be moist and tender and easy to eat – but that doesn’t mean bland,” he said. “I like to start with the base of meat and three vege, and then do it differently. It’s about taking traditional meals and making it fancier.”

“For instance with the roast pumpkin risotto, I sear some chicken in a blend of anchovy oil, basil oil, chilli oil and garlic oil and then bake it. It is then shredded and served up on top of the risotto and roasted pumpkin.”

To add more flavour and nutrients to each bite, every dish is made from scratch and feature a lot of fresh herbs and produce grown onsite at Glengara.

A taste of independence

The quality of food on each plate is not the only thing that sets Glengara Care apart from a nursing home.

Lunch and dinner are catered for every day, while a breakfast pack featuring a selection of 10 cereals, milk, juice and fruit is delivered to residents’ doors.

Each apartment features a kitchenette and a dining area allowing residents the option of dining in the privacy of their own home or hosting guests. Residents can also enjoy the community’s beautifully landscaped gardens or mingle with their neighbours in the dining room.

To find out more, call our helpful team on 1800 955 070 or visit our website.

Get your free copy of the recipe book today!

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Yoga is a wonderful addition to the wellness centre

Sharon Dean has been teaching yoga to residents at The Verge, the new retirement village overlooking Burleigh Golf Course, for the past couple of months and said her chihuahua played his part in easing the newcomer’s nerves.

“Pablo has been a great addition to the yoga classes. It’s hard to take yourself seriously when this cute little dude is hanging around. He helps everyone feel less self-conscious,” Sharon said.

Pablo’s not the only popular one, with Village Manager Carolyn Verner reporting Sharon’s yoga classes had been a hit with The Verge’s residents.

“The residents absolutely love the yoga classes. We have a very fit and healthy group. There are a lot of residents who love to get out and go for a walk. The yoga class is a great alternative exercise for them to improve their balance – and it’s an excellent option for those who can’t get out and about so easily,” she said.

“We have a wonderful wellness centre here, with a café and a beautiful gym that all our residents love. We offer Tai Chi classes, musical exercises classes and yoga. We also have a partnership with Club Active, who come in and do fitness assessments for our residents and show them how to use the gym equipment safely. They give the residents a program that they can follow, and just about everyone has taken up that opportunity.”

Fostering a strong sense of community

The Verge’s apartment layout and popular common spaces have helped to foster a strong sense of community.

“The residents become part of the family,” Carolyn said. “All of the staff seem to adopt the residents as another grandparent, while their neighbours become good friends.

“Having friends just down the hallway can really make a big difference and stop social isolation. A lot of residents will go and knock on their neighbours’ doors and say, ‘I’m off to the yoga class or happy hour up at the terraces – do you want to come?’ They love having that sense of community and the choice to get involved or do what they want.”

Family at the heart of The Verge

Sharon’s parents, Pauline and Maurice, were among the first residents to move into The Verge. It was a significant change from their former life surrounded by gardens and chickens in Anglesea, on the Great Ocean Road. But after a year separated from their daughter by border closures, they decided to pack up and make a move to Queensland.

“It is very different, but they’re really happy at The Verge and have settled in,” Sharon said.

“Pablo has weekly sleepovers with my parents, and everyone makes such a fuss over him. It’s lovely to be part of the community here at The Verge. It is such a friendly, vibrant community.

Classes tailored to individual capabilities

“The group I teach have been really open-minded. Only one person has done yoga before, but they have all embraced it. I’ve taught more advanced classes, but I actually find the residents at The Verge to be more inspiring.

“If there are six people present, it’s like teaching six different classes. I modify the program constantly, and it is amazing to see how they take it on with their physical challenges. For example, we have one lady who does half the class in a chair. She can still do all the breathing exercises and stretch – but in a chair rather than getting up and down a lot.

“I’m constantly reminding everyone to listen to their bodies, so they know what their limits are. I’ve also thought a lot about what makes it yoga – not just a stretching class. So we focus a lot on breathing with the body moments and how to focus if you notice yourself getting caught up with your thoughts.”

Sharon said she also found her yoga class to be a spot of calm in her week.

“I love the classes because there is so much that is stressful going on in the world right now. It’s so nice to take that hour to connect and breathe and take a break from it all.”

Want to know more?

Are you interested in finding out more about The Verge? Book a COVIDsafe appointment with one of our friendly sales team by clicking here or calling 1800 955 070.

The first sod was turned on Thursday, August 26 at the site of The Green Tarragindi Retirement Village. The single-stage development, which will adjoin the new Tarragindi Bowls Club and club house, will be delivered under a partnership between RetireAustralia and the Yeronga Services and Community Club. It will take 18 months to complete.

A community with care at its heart

RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson said he was looking forward to seeing The Green come to life.

He said The Green would resonate with the downsizer, owner-occupier market – especially people who didn’t see themselves living in a traditional retirement village.

“The Green, like all our villages, is designed to offer choice, support, social connection and peace of mind,” he said.

“We enhance these elements with a diverse range of services and care options to ensure we continue to meet our residents’ needs.

“We not only design homes, but we also build communities people love to make their own.

“The Green will be one of those – a thriving community with care at its heart.”

Unique features of The Green

The Green features 94 independent living apartments, 11 different apartment types (most featuring stunning city or bushland views), and underground parking. Other features include a private cinema, library, indoor and outdoor gym.

Just 8km to Brisbane’s CBD, parks, schools, shops, restaurants, medical services, and culture and buzz of inner-city life are just a stone’s throw away.

The new Tarragindi Bowls Club

Residents will also enjoy access to the Tarragindi Bowls Club, which will proudly boast a championship-quality bowling green.

Nathan Young from the Yeronga Services Club said having the country’s newest bowling green at the heart of The Green development would be a big drawcard for future residents and the local community.

“A lot of hard work and consideration has gone into this project so it’s exciting to see it get under way and I hope it will be enjoyed by our valued members and the community for many years to come,” he said.

Outdoor entertainment will be a hallmark of the new Tarragindi community, with 70 per cent of the site dedicated to open space. It will include a landscaped recreational parkland with communal barbecue areas, common lawn, productive garden and children’s playground.

Designed for sustainability

The Green is an exemplar in the field of evidence-based home and community design principles, which take all aspects of sustainability and ageing well into account.

Every apartment is carefully considered in design layout and interior finishes to cater to residents’ needs such as hearing loss or visual impairment.

Residents will also be able to choose from a range of services including personal care, domestic support and clinical care, which can be tailored to their individual needs, and funded privately or if eligible, through a government funded care package.

Expressions of interest to secure one of the community’s independent living apartments are now being invited, with several already secured.

Find out more about this unique new retirement community in the heart of Tarragindi,

Call 1800 955 070

Enquire now

The development of Australia’s newest, championship-quality bowling green will be at the centre of RetireAustralia’s $80 million retirement community, The Green, at Tarragindi.

The first sod was turned on Thursday, August 26 at the site of the single-stage development, which will adjoin the new Tarragindi Bowls Club and club house. The project will be delivered under a partnership between RetireAustralia and the Yeronga Services and Community Club and will take 18 months to complete.

RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson said he was looking forward to seeing The Green come to life.

He said The Green would resonate with the downsizer, owner-occupier market – especially people who didn’t see themselves living in a traditional retirement village.

“The Green, like all our villages, is designed to offer choice, support, social connection and peace of mind,” he said.

“We enhance these elements with a diverse range of services and care options to ensure we continue to meet our residents’ needs.

“We not only design homes, but we also build communities people love to make their own.

“The Green will be one of those – a thriving community with care at its heart.”

Hutchinson Builders have been awarded the construction contract for the project.

“Hutchies is absolutely delighted to be working on this unique project,” Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson said.

“The overgrown site has been sitting dormant for a long time so we can’t wait to get started and turn it into something that will be a big asset to the community with many amenities for locals and residents of The Green.”

The Green features 94 independent living apartments, 11 different apartment types (most featuring stunning city or bushland views), and underground parking. Other features include a private cinema, library, indoor and outdoor gym.

Just 8km to Brisbane’s CBD, parks, schools, shops, restaurants, medical services, and culture and buzz of inner-city life are just a stone’s throw away.

All residents will also enjoy access to the Tarragindi Bowls Club, which will proudly boast a championship-quality bowling green.

Nathan Young from the Yeronga Services Club said having the country’s newest bowling green at the heart of The Green development would be a big drawcard for future residents and the local community.

“A lot of hard work and consideration has gone into this project so it’s exciting to see it get under way and I hope it will be enjoyed by our valued members and the community for many years to come,” he said.

Outdoor entertainment will be a hallmark of the new Tarragindi community, with 70 per cent of the site dedicated to open space. It will include a landscaped recreational parkland with communal barbecue areas, common lawn, productive garden and children’s playground.

The Green is an exemplar in the field of evidence-based home and community design principles, which take all aspects of sustainability and ageing well into account.

Every apartment is carefully considered in design layout and interior finishes to cater to residents’ needs such as hearing loss or visual impairment.

Residents will also be able to choose from a range of services including personal care, domestic support and clinical care, which can be tailored to their individual needs, and funded privately or if eligible, through a government funded care package.

Expressions of interest to secure one of the community’s independent living apartments are now being invited, with several already secured.

To find out more about this unique new retirement community in the heart of Tarragindi, register your interest at thegreentarragindi.com.au or call 1800 955 070 to book a confidential, COVID-safe appointment in the new display suite at 3/212 Cracknell Road, Tarragindi.

ENDS

For the residents of Glengara Care and Glengara Retirement Village, it could be easy to take it all for granted.

After all, topiary and green walls rarely top a must-have list for care apartments or retirement living. But behind the carefully shaped hedges and award-winning subtropical gardens connecting Glengara’s independent living villas, Glengara Care apartments, and public spaces is a team of very busy gardeners dedicated to making the residents’ expansive surroundings green.

Head gardener Matt Keanelly leads a team of 10 gardeners responsible for creating and maintaining a vast collection of hedges, palms, feature gardens and lawns.

“All of Glengara’s gardens are maintained by the whole team. This includes the 313 independent villas and 70 care apartments as well as all common areas including the pool, the memorial gardens, the ecologically sensitive areas, the vegetable gardens and the perimeter fence gardens,” he said.

 Verdant spaces and budding blooms

“Glengara has a formal garden design with shaped hedges, but also features a semi-tropical design with lots of golden canes, bangalows, cycads, Canary Island date palms, magnolias, cordylines, frangipanis and strelitzia – all varieties which were all the rage when the bulk of the village was built in 1998.”

Throughout the village, the plants change depending on the orientation of the villas. Lilly pillies, murraya, golden durantes, snow maiden and buxus are shaped, providing a cohesive theme that flows through the grounds, while little ruby, tricolor, and viburnum add splashes of colour.

“Some of the more unique plants at Glengara include the teddy bear magnolia, the giant bromeliads, fiddle leaf figs, crepe myrtles, canary island palms and tiger grass,” Mr Keanelly said.

“I do like to use a lot of different plant species, but my top three plants are the loropetalum plum – which is gorgeous. It’s got a super attractive pink flower and unique purple leaves. The tibouchia jazzie has a superb purple flower and flowers for most of the year. It can also be pruned into a unique shape and finally alternanthera (little ruby) – it makes a great border plant with its attractive red/purple leaves.

Striking garden features

“We also have 16, six-metre-high vertical plant walls that feature in our Glengara Care apartments, which really softens the look of the building. And the new care apartment gardens have created a different aspect for my team to work on with their internal location. The gardens are viewed from most points inside the building, so this is an ongoing focus for us to keep establishing and creating a beautiful space for the Glengara Care residents to enjoy and potter around in.”

Planning, pruning and pests

Mr Keneally says the key to keeping this wide array of plants and gardens looking their best is planning, pruning and pest control.

“We have a routine. The gardens are split into 10 areas, which covers around 32 villas. We prune one area each week, so every villa gets pruned five times over the year. Fertilising is completed within the 10-week pruning schedule,” he said.

“For mulching, we have a three-yearly schedule. Each year, we use an average of 250 cubic metres of an aged native mulch from our local landscaping supplier. We use it to mulch around 100 villas every year, including front, side and back gardens.

“An average day for the Glengara garden team starts with pruning the scheduled area. Once the pruning is complete, we pick up our clippings and any palms fronds or trees that we have cut back. We also weed, treat infected plants and lawns, fertilise any sick plants and finally use a blower to keep the area clean and tidy.”

While the grass is cut by an external contractor, Mr Keanelly and his team keep the lawns healthy and weed-free.

“The gardening team and I maintain the lawn weeds. We use Bin-Die to control this issue. We also topsoil the lawns when needed. We get the top soil from a local supplier – my tip is the smellier it is, the better. For fertiliser, we use Shirleys No. 17 Lawn Food, and of course, we aerate the turf,” he said.

The team’s regular pruning and fertilising schedule keep Glengara looking lush – but things don’t always go to plan.

“The main challenge we face at Glengara is the weather. Too much rain and the plants explode with growth. But if there is no rain, keeping the plants healthy and alive is a challenge. Another small issue we have is bandicoots. They also seem to love the grounds around Glengara and make a lot of mess for us to repair,” Mr Keanelly said.

Smaller pests can also test the gardening team, with mealybugs, lilly pilly beetle, black sooty mould, aphids, white scale and pink wax scale popping up here and there.

Keanelly’s top tips

“My top tips on maintaining large scale gardens are to identify pest and disease early and treat to appropriately. I use eco oil or pyrethrum to control these pests. You also need to fertilise the gardens at the appropriate times, in spring and again in late summer and early autumn or when rain is forecast. Apply heavy watering on newly established gardens, use a safe and effective poison on weeds, mulch thick and prune hard in summer.

Despite the intense maintenance schedule, Mr Keanelly says he loves the work and the results.

“Having beautiful gardens gives our residents a great place to live and to really enjoy their hard-earned retirement. All our residents are very passionate about their own gardens, which really helps, and they all really enjoy all our flowering plants and creative hedges in Glengara,” he said.

For more information on Glengara Care or to speak to one of our friendly sales team members please click here.