Helping Margaret live her fullest life in care

The beautiful garden beds and hanging baskets outside Margaret’s bedroom are a haven for local birdlife. A labour of love for Margaret and our team, they’re a deeply personal symbol of the colourful world she enjoys.

We meet Margaret, and the garden that means so much to her at Wantirna Views Care Community in Melbourne’s leafy outer-eastern suburbs. Margaret has complex care needs, with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease significantly limiting her movement. Our team at Wantirna Views and Margaret’s fellow residents have come together to support Margaret to continue to live a meaningful life, focusing on her abilities and an understanding of the things she values most.

People are at the heart of Margaret’s world

“While Margaret’s mobility is severely limited, she has movement in her fingers and she enjoys playing games on her iPad, which keeps her mind active,” says wellbeing manager Leanne. “And she just loves people. Along with her clinical care, spending time with people of all ages is a central part of her wellbeing.”

Each evening after dinner, Margaret enjoys a hot chocolate and watching her favourite shows with our residents and team. Over time, more of our residents have joined the ritual, making evenings at Wantirna Views a special occasion for socialising.

Each month, our team bring their children and grandchildren to Wantirna Views to spend time with our residents. Margaret loves to join in and happily chat, sharing stories of her own grandchildren.

“Family and friends mean the world to Margaret,” says Leanne. “All our team members have gotten to know Margaret so well, and we love hearing her stories. She’s forever interested in people, always asking us about ourselves and our families, and sharing her memories with our residents.

She’s struck up special bonds with residents Cynthia and David, who she catches up with once a month for lunch and a chat. And she never misses her weekly Thursday calls with her great friend Denise, all the way from England, with the help of her brother Harold.”

Margaret and Kelvin bond over a shared passion

Margaret and maintenance officer Kelvin share a green thumb – and big ideas! Over their regular chats, the pair came up with the idea of raised garden beds outside Margaret’s window, so she could enjoy the sight and the smell of the flowers from her room with ease.

Margaret and Kelvin worked together to plan the layout of the beds. Then they paid a special visit to Bunnings to select the perfect plants for Margaret’s dream garden.

“I love to look at flowers and when I was able to, I spent all my time in the garden,” says Margaret. “I’d go down to get the mail and would take half an hour to walk back because I’d potter in the garden along the way.”

And while the way she does it might have changed, Margaret can still enjoy her interest in flowers that has meant so much to her throughout her life.