In her case, volunteering, catching up with friends, reading, using her I-pad and watching television.
Merle reckons she deserves it. She retired eight years ago – at the age of 80.
“Work keeps your mind sharp,” Merle said of her career as a real estate agent and working at the TAB.
“It also keeps you busy and active.”
Merle is delighted to be living safely and well in her lovely home of the last 35 years in nearby Shepparton.
Photos of her family adorn the walls. Her late husband Geoff, her two sons and her beloved grandchildren.
A porcelain cat ornament enjoys a prime real estate spot in the lounge room.
The self-confessed cat slave misses having a moggy around the house, but thinks it’s better that way.
“A kitten would probably end up playing with my oxygen tube.” she said.
Merle has emphysema and requires round-the-clock oxygen support.
It was after her diagnosis that she realised she needed a bit of help to live independently at home.
She phoned My Aged Care, was assessed as being eligible for a home care package, and then given a list of providers to choose from.
She contacted Uniting AgeWell — and the rest is history.
“Uniting AgeWell is really good,” Merle said, who gets help around the house.
She also appreciates the care and concern that the staff shows.
After Merle had a fall, she started working with care adviser Teresa Knight to buy an electric reclining chair and a walker.
She now also has a discreet carry bag with small oxygen container for when she goes out.
“Nothing is too much trouble for Teresa,” Merle said.
“She comes up with all these suggestions of how she can make my life easier, and then discusses them with me. How wonderful is that?”
Merle is not the only one who thinks so.
Consumers recently voted Uniting AgeWell as the most trusted brand for home care in Victoria and Tasmania, in the 2025 Readers Digest Trusted Brands Survey.
Merle is also keen to listen to Uniting AgeWell’s podcast, The Ageing Ideal.
It was launched earlier this year and talks about issues facing older Australians.
It’s hosted by ABC broadcaster Jacinta Parsons and is not just for seniors.
It’s for anyone who wants to know more about how we can live and age well.
The message of the podcast is — it’s not how old you are, but how you are old that matters.
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