Retirees Welcome New Aged Care Residents with a Special Gift

A knitting group has crafted a warm and friendly welcome for the first arrivals at Torquay’s newest aged care residence. Villa Maria Catholic Homes will open Star of the Sea Residential Aged Care in October, located next door to its existing retirement village in Horseshoe Bend Road.

About 24 ladies who live at Star of the Sea Retirement Village have spent the last nine months knitting about 60 knee rugs for the first new residents arriving at the 96-bed aged care residence in a few weeks.

One of the knitters, Jo-Anne Hyde said residents at the retirement community were excited to meet their new neighbours and wanted to make them feel welcome.

“We’d like to have a relationship and that was the intention of the knee rugs. We jokingly said that we were knitting the two communities together,” Jo-Anne said.

Star of the Sea Retirement Living Co-ordinator Robyn Leahy said its residents were already talking about ways to forge a connection between the two communities.

“We already have residents asking if they can do volunteer work there, whether it is reading or just going in for a chat. We have had a lot of interest in that,” Robyn said.

Star of the Sea Open Day

VMCH proudly opens the doors for people to see its newest aged care residence on Saturday, 21 October, 10am to 1pm at 1290 Horseshoe Bend Road, Torquay. 

Here is a great chance to see Star of the Sea Residential Aged Care first-hand, meet staff, receive personalised advice or go on a tour.

Find out more about Villa Maria Catholic Homes.