An aged care career that’s close to home in so many ways

Carol Sly says the loveable residents and welcoming staff are just some of the highlights of working at Sandpiper Lodge Residential Care.

Carol has been a Personal Carer at the home for just over three years and describes her work as helping residents ‘keep as much independence as they can’. Her role involves helping residents with daily life tasks like showering and personal care, and Carol says Sandpiper Lodge is a wonderful place to work.

“I love coming to work. I love helping the residents and if I haven’t been here for two days the residents say yay Carol’s back”, Carol said.

“It gives you a good feeling, I think Sandpiper is a great place…we have some really good caring staff.”

She started at Sandpiper after completing a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), and said she also enjoys being able to finish shifts at 3.00pm because it allows her to pick up her daughter from school.

Located in the SA coastal town of Goolwa, Sandpiper Lodge opened in 2007 and provides high quality Residential Care services.

Residents enjoy chef-cooked meals that are prepared on site, and a range of other on site features including a Health & Wellness Centre, Chapel, and landscaped gardens.

Carol had been working in retail for 30 years before she started at Sandpiper Lodge. She had an ‘eye-opener’ into aged care after her mum was diagnosed with Dementia around 10 years ago, eventually living in a Residential Care home like Sandpiper Lodge. 

After also helping her husband care for his parents she was inspired to provide care for a living, and she highly recommends that Goolwa locals with a caring heart join the team Sandpiper.

“I think from the moment you walk in to the ladies at the desk, to the cleaners, to the laundry lady, everyone here is friendly,” Carol said.

“They’ll all have a chat and some of them have been 10 to 15 years…so it’s a bit homely.”

“We go out and we have tea in smaller groups but sometimes we’ll go out in a bigger group. It’s a close little knit community…(and) we’re all here for each other.”