In aged-care facilities, fashion events have become a source of joy for residents, bringing color and vibrancy to their lives. One such resident, 89-year-old Judy Ellison, believes that fashion is all about embracing color and enjoying it to the fullest. She, along with other residents, is reveling in a new fashion initiative at Ballina’s RSL Lifecare Florence Price Gardens.
Initiated by nurse Maia Willow, Our Timeless Threads merges vintage fashion with aged care, creating a unique experience for seniors in northern New South Wales. Willow’s pop-up store brings racks of clothes and accessories like hats, feather boas, and jewels for residents to try on and have fun with. The events go beyond just dressing up; they include parades, photo shoots, and workshops on creating fashionable meal-time protectors from scrap fabric.
Willow’s inspiration for these fashion events stemmed from her time working at an aged-care facility in Alice Springs, where she witnessed the transformative power of dressing up for the residents. She noticed that clothing played a significant role in the well-being and dignity of the elderly, prompting her to extend this experience to other seniors in need.
Residents like Florence Trotter at Florence Price Gardens express their delight in browsing through the racks of clothes and accessories, likening the experience to having a shop brought directly to them. The fashion events not only offer a chance to dress up but also serve as a mood-lifter, bringing laughter and a sense of community to the residents.
For Felicity Durham, who assists at the events, the joy comes from seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces as they admire themselves in the mirror, perhaps reconnecting with their younger selves. The events cater to both male and female residents, providing a platform for self-expression and creativity through fashion.
This innovative approach to aged care not only brings fun and excitement to the residents but also highlights the importance of acknowledging the wisdom and style of older individuals. In a society that often overlooks the elderly, initiatives like Our Timeless Threads offer a refreshing perspective on aging, emphasizing the value and joy that fashion can bring at any stage of life.
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