Julia Connell can’t believe the difference in her husband, John, since he’s back at the social connection group at Forest Hill AgeWell Centre three times a week.
“When it closed during COVID, John used to just sit on the couch and watch TV, and then doze off,” she explains. “It just wasn’t much of a life for him. Now the centre is open again, I drop him off and he has a wonderful time. He seems to have found a new energy! He always comes home and says what fun he had, even though he can’t remember what he did.”
John, 80, who lives in Burwood East, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago and was doing quite well, until COVID hit. “The lockdowns certainly didn’t help,” says Julia bluntly.
And the retired building insurance assessor is delighted to be back in the swing of things at the centre. “The best thing about coming here is all the friends I have made,” says John. “The meals are pretty good too.”
Julia is also delighted. It has given her much-needed respite, time on her own when she can go shopping, catch up with friends and do the things that she needs to do for herself.
“I’ve now got time to go back to gym and I love to go walking, so it works very well,” 79-year-old Julia says. “It’s nice to be able to do stuff – for me!”
Project Lead Social Connections for the east and outer east, Jennifer Holman, says, “There is no doubt that COVID lockdowns increased the social isolation of many of our clients, who are thrilled to be back at the centres again and having fun.”
And the lockdowns took their emotional toll. “Clients have told me they missed socialising, companionship and the emotional and mental stimulation that goes with coming to the centre. These sessions afford them the opportunity to create new friendships, to meet new people,” says Jennifer.
It also provides valuable respite for carers – and time out for them to do things they want to do. “Carers have told me they are thrilled the centre has reopened, and many say they saw a cognitive decline in their loved ones during lockdowns,” Jennifer explains.
The group of activity workers at the centres have all done a course on dementia through the University of Tasmania and are skilled at tailoring programs to maximise enjoyment and cognitive stimulation for clients.
Jennifer says the social connections programs in Melbourne’s outer east run five days a week at Mingara in Forest Hill and three days a week at Orana in Wantirna South and activities range from arts and crafts, trivia, quizzes, puzzles, electronic games like simulated driving and more. And the bus outings which run two days a week, include a vast range of destinations – art galleries, exhibitions, markets, movies and theatre, gardens … everything is up for consideration.
Our AgeWell Centres across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat offer a suite of restorative, wellbeing and social connection services. Services on offer range at the various sites.
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