At nearly 86 years old, Valerie has lived a life filled with family, resilience and independence.

Born in North Melbourne and raised in the bayside suburb of Highett, Valerie has spent almost her entire life in Victoria. She enjoyed a career as a key punch operator, one of the early forms of computer data processing, before dedicating herself to raising her family. Today, she is the proud mother of three children, grandmother to eight grandchildren and great-grandmother to six great-grandchildren.

Despite the many changes life has brought, one thing has remained constant: Valerie's determination to stay independent.

"I've always been very independent," she says. "I could always do my own thing."

These days, Valerie lives on her own in a retirement village, where she has built a comfortable routine around family visits, shopping trips and her much-loved craft projects.

One of her favourite pastimes is creating handmade knitted coat hangers, a hobby she has enjoyed for more than a decade. Valerie carefully recovers hangers with knitted covers and sells them through a local shop and village markets.

"It's more to keep my hands busy," she says with a smile.

Finding the right support

Valerie first connected with Seniors Community Care after her granddaughter, who worked in a similar community services role, encouraged her to seek support.

Approaching her mid-eighties, Valerie recognised that some everyday tasks were becoming more difficult, particularly as she now manages painful knee conditions and prepares for possible knee replacement surgery.

Through Seniors, Valerie receives a range of services designed to help her continue living safely and independently at home. These include meal support, domestic assistance and access to gardening services when needed.

She particularly values the support of her cleaner.

"She's beautiful. She's really lovely," Valerie says.

Living alone since April this year, Valerie admits that adjusting to life by herself took some time.

"It took me a few weeks to get used to it," she says. "But now I'm alright."

The support provided through Seniors helps give her confidence that assistance is available when she needs it.

"If I need anything, I'll ring the office," she says.

Staying connected and active

Although mobility can sometimes be challenging, Valerie remains active and engaged with life. She still drives, enjoys shopping independently and looks forward to spending time with family whenever possible.

Her family remains at the centre of her world. Her grandchildren have grown into nurses, teachers, tradespeople and community service professionals, and she proudly keeps up with their achievements.

For many years, Valerie's home was the gathering place for her family, especially during school holidays when grandchildren would regularly visit.

"Our place was like a halfway house," she laughs.

These days, family visits, lunches with friends and cheering on her grandchildren at sporting events keep her calendar busy.

The importance of remaining independent

Like many older Australians, Valerie wants to remain in her own home and maintain the lifestyle she enjoys for as long as possible.

While she acknowledges there are some tasks, she can no longer do herself, having access to practical support has made a meaningful difference.

Seniors Community Care has also worked with Valerie to improve safety around her home, helping organise modifications and supporting her application for a personal emergency alarm.

For Valerie, it's these simple but important supports that help make independent living possible.

"They're really good," she says. "It's very helpful."

A message for others

When asked what she would tell someone who is considering in home care services, Valerie doesn't hesitate.

"Do it," she says. "They've been very good."

For Valerie, in home care isn't about giving up independence. It's about maintaining it.

With the right support, she continues to live life on her own terms, surrounded by memories, family, creativity and the confidence that help is there when she needs it most.