Chris discovers a new lease on life at Yurana Retirement Village
For Chris, moving to BlueCare’s Yurana retirement village in Springwood was about finding greater security, peace of mind and a home that would be easier to manage.
“I was getting older, I had a relatively big house and it was getting more difficult to maintain,” Chris said.
“I didn’t want that stress. I just thought that this is the time now for my security and my peace of mind, and Yurana has been all of that.”
Like many people considering retirement living for the first time, Chris wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
“I really didn’t know what retirement living was going to be like, and it’s the best choice I ever made,” she said.
“I feel safe. There’s always someone around if you need help, and if you feel like a cup of tea, then you can pop next door or down the road and there’s always someone around.”
A peaceful place to call home
Being able to bring her much-loved cat was another important part of Chris’s decision to move to Yurana.
“I’d had cats all my life, and that was another plus for Yurana, that we could bring pets in,” she said.
Chris also loves spending time walking around the village and enjoying its peaceful natural surroundings.
“We’ll go walking around the village and it’s so tranquil. The surroundings are absolutely fantastic,” she said.
“You just walk and you’re in another world. You can hear the birds, you’ll see a wallaby or two. It’s just wonderful.”
Friendship and community
Life at Yurana also brings plenty of opportunities to come together, celebrate and enjoy the company of neighbours.
Chris recalled the village’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, complete with decorations, an Irish meal, music and games.
“It just lifts the spirit. I mean, everybody down there was pumping,” she said.
“That’s what people want. They want to talk, put a meal in front of them, and it’s just a really good place for friendship.”
For Chris, that sense of friendship goes well beyond village events.
“We live in a community together and we’re all a part of it,” she said.
“We love this place and, you know, we want to do as much as we can for each other, and it makes the community stronger.”
“Being in Yurana has given me a new lease of life. I really was quite lonely where I was living, but coming in here you haven’t got five minutes to sit down. There’s always something to do, and I love it.”