Finding Community And Connection
A little over two years ago Sheila Waller was living in a big house that she had shared with her husband up until his death in 2011.
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13 January 2020
Stories
| Retirement Living
A little over two years ago Sheila Waller was living in a big house that she had shared with her husband up until his death in 2011. Despite the somewhat frightening nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheila couldn’t help but feel thankful that she was in a community and well supported.
“It would have been ghastly if I hadn’t moved here as I was living totally by myself in a large house. Suddenly I came across this village and that’s it, I’m happy here. I’ve been here two years last Sunday, I had moved in the day before my birthday,” said Sheila (as pictured here by fellow resident Barry Ormond).
Sheila was a doctor focussing on Gastroenterology and later specialising in Palliative Care as her private and professional worlds collided. For 20 years, Sheila cared for her husband as he navigated MS. “I cared for him as his health deteriorated and he eventually passed. During this time, I also ran an outreach program. I organised it and had a team of people who worked with me. We’d go into the community as required to help with pain control and general end-of-life activities.”
Sheila misses her profession from time to time but not as much as she did when living in her big house. “I wanted to be a part of a community so much, just to be amongst people, doing things. Having looked after my husband for so long and not working as part of a team, I found it very difficult to socialise.”
Living at Willandra Village, Sheila relishes the community and connection. “I feel that if you are willing to be out there, then people are willing to take you under their wing and I really do feel I belong here. Within a year I was on the Residents’ committee, which meant I was really taking part in the village activities.”