From celebrating 70 years of marriage to finding new ways to communicate, residents at Mercy Place Warrnambool have been sharing some special moments.
For Doug and Barb Peskett, their platinum wedding anniversary was a chance to celebrate seven decades together. For fellow resident Noeleen, personalised activities and technology are helping her enjoy familiar experiences and connect with those around her.
Doug and Barb celebrate 70 years together
Doug still remembers the first time he saw Barb. He was walking through the lounge of the hotel his parents owned when Barb’s father introduced them.
“She was beautiful,” Doug recalled.
The couple married in St Kilda on 6 October 1956, the day after Doug’s birthday. Seven decades later, they marked the milestone at Mercy Place Warrnambool, exchanging rings again in front of family and friends.
“After 70 wonderful years, I am still grateful to walk through life with you,” they told each other.
Their life together has taken them from Kaniva to Melbourne, Horsham, Robe and Portland, before settling in Warrnambool. Along the way, they raised two sons, Marc and Robert, and welcomed five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Asked about the secret to a long marriage, Barb some simple advice: “You better keep laughing. Always keep your sense of humour. Don’t ever lose it.”
“We had staying power,” she added. “He’s a lovely man.”
Finding new ways to connect with Noeleen
For fellow resident Noleen, staff at Mercy Place Warrnambool have been exploring different ways to help her communicate and enjoy activities that reflect her interests.
A former market researcher and business owner, Noleen lost her ability to speak following a stroke and is now living with vascular dementia.
Through Brain Trainer Plus, an interactive program featuring games and exercises designed to encourage concentration and hand coordination, Noleen has been finding new ways to participate and engage.
Mercy Place Warrnambool Lifestyle coordinator Bev Stutchbury said one particularly special moment came when staff heard Noleem speaking.
“Some of us had not heard her speak and then suddenly she’s saying words,” Bev said. “That in itself is heartwarming.”
Noeleen’s husband, Peter, said the activities have helped bring interest and enjoyment to her day. Before her recent stroke, the couple enjoyed going out together – to cafés, shops, the movies and Deakin University’s library.
“Now she is in the princess chair, having access to the Brain Trainer Plus goes some way to replacing these lost activities,” he said.
Alongside Brain Trainer Plus, staff use music, virtual reality and personalised sensory boxes to help residents connect with activities and memories that are meaningful to them.
For Be, the starting point is always getting to know the individual.
“We need to focus on the person that’s living with the condition as opposed to the condition,” Bev said. “They’re still a person, they’ve just got a disease.”
Both stories offer a glimpse into life at Mercy Place Warrnambool, where celebrating milestones and finding ways to support each resident’s interests are part of everyday life.
