At Mount Gilead Estate, it is our community that makes it a great place to live. There are many things that happen within the village that wouldn’t be possible without the help of the residents who volunteer their time, knowledge, and energy. This includes golf tournaments and dancing classes, happy hour at the bar and community gardening…… the calendar of events and hobby groups to join just goes on! Mount Gilead Estate is an active and vibrant community of retirees, and the contributions of all volunteers are appreciated by many.
One such volunteer group that makes Mount Gilead Estate a great place to live is the Support Team.
Retirement villages offer a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling and active lifestyle in your golden years. However, the process of aging can bring its own unique challenges. For some residents, these challenges can lead to loneliness or isolation. For others, they may experience a physical and/or mental illness that impacts their ability to enjoy life to its fullest. That’s where the Support Team steps in.
The Support Team at Mount Gilead Estate is a completely volunteer-run group of residents who live here in the village. They work with residents who need a little extra care, help organise mobility aids for residents to use, work with residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and provide an ear to listen for residents at times when they need.
The team is a diverse group that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the community. This includes those with nursing backgrounds and caregivers. All of whom have a passion for providing the care and assistance people within the village community need.
All our volunteers are also residents themselves, which means they understand the challenges and needs of their fellow residents. They have built strong relationships with each other and with the wider community, creating a supportive and caring environment in the village.
At Mount Gilead Estate, our Support Team plays an essential role in ensuring our residents enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle in retirement. With their compassionate care and unwavering support, they make a meaningful difference in our residents’ lives every day.
The Support Team’s main passion is for mental health in retirement and keeping retirees active. Some of the things they do to help residents every day include providing mobility aids, lending an ear to those who need, and helping those with other needs often associated with aging.
Not everyone can get around as easily as they used to. As such, the Support Team identified a need for extra support and mobility assistance for retirees living in the village. For this, they organised donations for mobility aids to be made available on loan to anyone who needs them in the village.
By making several different types of mobility aids available to residents, those with injury or reduced mobility from pain or otherwise can benefit from maintaining independence and safety, assisting them in walking and moving about, especially when leaving the village. This is important to help them remain socially active and maintain their quality of life.
Sometimes we just need an ear to hear and a shoulder to lean on. This is particularly true for those facing the unique challenges of life experienced in retirement years. Being heard and understood by someone who is walking the same path as you can make these difficult times much easier than doing it on your own.
This is the essence of compassion and care that the Support Team offers to those who need it. This includes providing emotional support to those who have lost loved ones and those experiencing depression or otherwise.
The Support Team regularly takes residents out to enjoy the Macarthur region, helping them stay active and engaged with the wider community. The day is normally spent at local clubs, at the local shopping centres, or participating in local events. The Support Team’s licensed driver transports them in the village’s minivan. Mobility equipment has been made available and used by the residents’ group on their days out.
On other days, they bring various residents together in the community library to play bingo and enjoy other activities as a group. This might be arts and crafts, different games like lawn bowls, and having BBQs as a group. Everything they do with these residents is adapted to suit their needs.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are progressive brain disorders that are estimated to affect 400,000 people in Australia with forecast cases of more than half a million people by 2030. It is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that impact memory, thinking, and social abilities. There are several different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form.
As the disease progresses, people may require more care and support to maintain a dignified and happy life. This duty normally falls on the spouses of those suffering from the disease. This is where the support team assists those with the disease. By taking the residents out or for a day or enjoying a BBQ and games at the village, they provide a day of respite for the family.
It’s not just those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia that they support though.
Whether it’s helping with daily tasks, providing emotional support, or simply being a friendly face to talk to, the Support Team is always there for Mount Gilead Estates residents. They embody the true spirit of community and are an essential part of what makes this over-55s retirement village such a wonderful place to live.
Thanks to the generosity of a local sporting goods store in Penrith, the support team truly look like a team in their bright blue shirts. All Sports Direct donated the Support Team’s blue shirts which definitely make the team stand out. Now, they are bright enough to see when out and about and around the village.
All Sports Direct is an Australian-owned and operated sporting goods and uniforms store in Jamisontown, a neighbouring suburb of South Penrith NSW. They supply team wear (shirts, shorts, socks, and jocks), training equipment, accessories, corporate wear & promotional products.
It’s the community that makes living in an over 55s community worth the move. Just look at the calendar of events which are all volunteer-run. There’s something there for everyone with numerous activities daily. This is an active retirement village that supports better living and aging in place.
We invite you to come and see for yourself. Get in touch with our team to book your personal tour.
Visit Mount Gilead Estate to see what your retirement could look like. Tour the village to see our resort-style retirement facilities.
Complete the form with your details and preferred tour times or any questions you have and a member of our sales team will be in touch.
