Meet Valda (Val) Latimer, who came to Uniting AgeWell’s Latvian Community for respite care and loved it so much she refused to leave!

A year ago Val had a fall in the garden of her Seaford home, hit her head, ended up in hospital and was told she needed respite care for ten days or so to get her strength back.

So the 92-year-old moved into the Wantirna South community and despite being Australian-born and knowing little about Latvian culture, felt at home from the get-go.

Within a week she’d knocked on the door of the office of Residential Service Manager June Hodges to say, “I love it here, I’d like to move in permanently. I’d like this to be my new home now.”

Val found herself going to art classes, enjoying concerts and listening to entertainers. She enjoyed going for walks, working out in the exercise classes and of course laughing and chatting with her new friends over a glass of her favourite tipple during Happy Hour.

Harmony Week from 16-22 March is an opportunity to showcase how customers, volunteers and staff are celebrated for their diversity at the same time as being united by our not-for-profit organisation.

The theme of Harmony Week, ‘Everyone belongs’ is something we practice every day at Uniting AgeWell.

Val experiences this first-hand. “Life is just so much fun,” explains as she sorts through her jewellery box while planning her outfit for an Opera Supper Dance at the site.

Lifestyle Coordinator Tracey Eales pops in for a chat and the two of them end up discussing the various pieces of jewellery. During the conversation it emerges that Val prefers full-bodied red wine to the sweeter red served at Happy Hour the other night.

“No worries, I’ll order in some reds from South Australia, I think you’ll love them!” Tracey says.

“See! This is just one example of how Tracey and all the staff are always so kind,” explains the great-grandmother. “Nothing is too much trouble for them. They’re fantastic.”