Aveo The Domain Country Club Retirement Village

I am writing as the daughter of a resident to express my appreciation and gratitude for the care my mother receives at Elston Lodge, where she has been living since June 2010, five months after the death of my father. It was not necessarily an easy decision for her to make to move there, but it has been a decision neither she nor her family have regretted.

My mother finds herself in a warm and caring environment, where there are always people she can talk to or just sit with. She no longer has the concern of how to prepare her meals, and there are many activities which my mother enjoys participating in at Elston Lodge, such as craft, putt-putt, movies, music sessions on Sunday nights and the regular day trips to surrounding Gold Coast areas.

Several times a year the staff of carers headed by Diann Richards organise a bigger activity in which all of the residents participate as well as their family and friends, should they wish to. These events are truly wonderful, usually the general dining area is beautifully decorated by the carers including Diann, Bonnie, Kay, Margaret and Heather, who work hard to make it a festive and well organised occasion, and outside entertainers come and perform to a delighted audience. Diann mostly has the role of MC as well as that of singing to the admiring residents. Often towards the end of the evening, prizes will be awarded and if there is a resident/s who has been experiencing particular difficulty in some way, they will be acknowledged for their courage with a gift. I myself have attended at least two of these celebrations and they have been a highlight.

I am in the fortunate position of living about 2 kilometres away from Elston Lodge, and therefore am able to visit my mother frequently. I am always very pleased to walk in to the main general area of Elston Lodge as it is so well kept and is a very pleasant place for the residents and staff to meet, and chat and have a coffee if they wish, sit outside underneath the sails in the barbecue area, or sit further down the back and enjoy reading the books on the library shelves.

The carers have genuine empathy with the people living there, and on the odd occasion when I have come very early in the morning before most people are awake, it is heart-warming to see one of the carers sitting chatting with a resident who would otherwise be alone.

My mother's apartment, which she is gradually furnishing to her own taste, is clean and comfortable and we are pleased that there is an emergency button by the toilet as well as the portable Vitalcall necklace. I am happy that she is in good hands, and enjoying the company of one or more of the many lovely people around her.

I have had occasion to call Diann and ask her to have a chat with my mother about certain health treatment issues, and she has been very helpful in encouraging my mother. I have no doubt that my father would be very pleased with the life his beloved wife is living and would also be very grateful for the opportunity she has to live in Elston Lodge as well as for the staff and residents who make it a cosy place to live.