Friendship, the best medicine for Coastal Waters residents

For Bolton Clarke Coastal Waters aged care residents Dene and Les, the last 12 months have proven friendship will get you through anything.

After the passing of both their wives around the same time last year, the team offered the idea that they get to know one another.

“It was our nurse Tracey who suggested that after the passing of my wife and Dene’s wife, that we would be a good match,” Les said.

“So they introduced us and it couldn’t have been a better thing – we had always seen each other around but never met properly.”

“He loves his sport, I love my sport – we both go for St George Illawarra Dragons,” Dene said.

Since meeting they have now become known around the home as “The Dynamic Duo” and are rarely seen apart, enjoying breakfasts and lunches together, heading out on bus trips and spending time soaking up the sunshine outdoors.

For Dene, his friendship with Les has not only allowed him to work through his grief, but encouraged him to become more connected with the Coastal Waters community again.

“It took a long while for me to sit with or listen to anyone but the team here are very good – they backed me up all the way,” Dene said.

“When they finally got me out into the dining room, Les was on his own and so was I, so we turned the tables around and just started talking to each other.” 

“I didn’t realise until I lost my wife how important a place like this would be where you get attention from the staff and company like Dene,” Les said.

“If I was at home on my own, there wouldn’t have been the staff checking in on me or having a mate here to encourage me – he has helped me through and never failed to check on me.”