“I know I will miss the residents heaps,” she said. 

“I will also miss the staff as they are a very caring group of people and always have the resident’s needs in mind.” 

What started out as a weekend job ended up a much loved career.

“I hadn’t worked while Josh was younger so when the position came up for weekend work, I thought it a good opportunity to get back into the workforce and Bob could be at home with Josh,” Lyn said. 

“I had always nursed and was keen to get back into that field and what better way than caring for the aged. It became a permanent par-time position not long after but I didn’t think that it would last for 22 years.”

Riverview was only 21 rooms when it first opened and Lyn started work. “The cook lived in what is now the staff room and was on call at night to help the care worker on duty. The residents entering the facility were a lot more independent and became more involved with the daily chores around the hostel,” said Lyn. 

“They loved to peel the vegetables, set and clear the tables at meal times and would even come into the kitchen and wash up for us if we were called away to attend to someone.” 

According to Lyn in those days two evening staff had to prepare, cook, serve and clean up after dinner as well as attend to resident care. 

“It was busy but we managed,” she said. “I guess adding a further 10 rooms was a big change and with ageing in place, the care needs of the residents has increased. I missed not having as much time as I would have liked with them but unfortunately the documentation as well as the increase in care needs took a lot of that time away.”

A few years ago Lyn became care manager and even though this took her away from the hands on care side of things it added more responsibility to her day. 

Lyn was kept busy liaising with doctors, pharmacy, allied health and families and says she enjoyed this position immensely. 

“The contact I had with the residents was something I enjoyed each day, every day there was one of them that would make me laugh. I also enjoyed getting to know the families and helping with their loved one,” she said. 

“It is not an easy thing to place a parent in an aged facility so hopefully I made it easier for them.” 

Palliative care was always close to her heart Lyn says. 

“It was always very special to care for someone at end of life and I thank the families for allowing me to be part of it,” she said. 

“It was always very upsetting for staff when a resident passed away as you do become very attached to them.” 

One of the nicest things staff did in the early days after a death according to Lyn was gather to have raisin toast and a cup of tea, talk about their time with the resident and support each other. 

“Over the 22 years I have enjoyed so many happy days, they far out weighed the bad days,” she said.

“I would like to wish Yvonne (manager of the Apsley Riverview Hostel) and staff all the best and thank them for their friendship and support throughout the years.”

Lyn said she is looking forward to being able to visit her children more often and become involved in the community through volunteering. 

“Bob and I plan to do some trips at some point but at the moment I am still getting used to the idea of retirement.”