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Every Sunday, 91-year-old Rita Piper diligently attends mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish with her wonderful support worker, Vilma. It’s a weekly routine that has stood the test of time, providing the much-loved great-grandmother with the chance to remain connected with a meaningful part of her life.
Alex from HelloCare recently had a chance to chat with Rita Piper, her daughter Marianne, and Rita herself, getting a closer look at Rita’s life and how her care has made a difference.
“People are always happy to see her. They’ll hug her and chat with her. Recently, one of the priests was leaving so she went to say goodbye to him and they all looked out for Mum. That’s something she can do because of the support from AMCS,” Marianne, Rita’s daughter, shared with HelloCare.
“I think she’s one of the oldest in the congregation and she looks forward to it every week. Mum has always been a devout Catholic; the social and spiritual side are both important.”
Rita’s life has always centred around family in Melbourne. Born during the Great Depression, her family moved to Reservoir during her younger years. While the suburb is now part of metropolitan Melbourne, back then it was just paddocks.
Rita left school at 13 when her mother fell sick. One of nine children, she was responsible for most of the housework.
“It was a lot of work but I didn’t mind, I enjoyed that. You worked but you didn’t take any notice because that was life,” she said.
The one thing she didn’t enjoy was ironing – but luckily for Rita she had two sisters to take on that task.
She soon found work as a seamstress, initially working in a dressmaking store. When they closed after several years of business, she found work making men’s ties. Rita said the experience was a bit of an eye-opener after being taught to “act like a lady.”
“The women who owned the dressmaking store said you had to act like ladies; you couldn’t swear or tell jokes. Even at home, we weren’t allowed to swear,” she shared.
“I didn’t know how the other half lived until I changed jobs. The men would tell jokes, they’d be yapping about people and I got an eye opener.”
At 24, Rita married the love of her life, Jack Piper. They had four children, including Marianne, and lived in East Coburg. But when Marianne eventually moved to Hopper’s Crossing with her children, Rita and Jack followed suit. That was 27 years ago.
Rita still lives in that same family home at Hopper’s Crossing, although Jack sadly passed away in 2017.
At 91, it’s fantastic that Rita can continue to enjoy her home. Two car accidents – with Rita being a pedestrian each time – mean she has slowed down a bit, so some help here and there is needed. Much of this comes from Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS), her home care provider.
Staff like Vilma visit five days a week to help Rita with her personal care, but they’re far more than just care workers to her. Because Rita gets to see the same familiar faces each week, they feel like family.
“She always looks forward to them and they’re really friendly. They provide personal care but if Mum feels like a coffee they go down to the local cafe for a coffee with her,” Marianne said.
Marianne said AMCS is friendly and approachable, and their familiarity with Rita means there are always open lines of communication in case anything does go wrong or someone notices a change.
“That consistency is really important. Mum has a relationship with her three workers who come in. They become a part of your life,” she added, sharing that it was a simple referral from a friend that led to the positive relationship.
“Somebody recommended them and I’m glad they did because I would not have known where to look for such good help,” she said.
Rita loves the opportunity to chat with her support workers, whether it’s about their kids or pets.
“It’s good because they take me to church and then we’ll have a coffee. They’re all really good care workers. You get to know their families. You don’t see their families in person but you get to know them through talking,” Rita added.
Surrounded by friends and family, it’s clear that Rita’s life is so enriching because she can remain at home. Her home is often the long-term pitstop for family members, whether it’s a 16-year-old granddaughter dropping by or a grandson travelling from Cambodia to live with her for a couple of months.
Then there’s the neighbourhood community. Rita herself said she’s happy enough to smile and wave at her neighbours, but you can tell they’re always looking out for her.
All of this is possible because of the personal care and support she receives from her experienced team of care workers at AMCS.
If you’re looking for a new home care provider, you can find more information about AMCS at amcservices.org.au.
