RSL. In Australia, stands for Returned Services League. Through very bad health; I live in a nursing home , called RSL Life care in a Sydney suburb , called Narrabeen. THE actual wing where I live is Phyllis Stewart. Because of the name and other factors , I elected to come here; expecting it to be full of ex servicemen & Women. NOT SO. I was to learn that it had an open door policy and I arrived to find myself surrounded by a great many folk with Dementia[ both male and female]. At first I had a lot of trouble with night time "visitors"who could not remember where their own room was and so chose mine. It was NOT unusual to awake to find strange folk, who I did not know , who were rummaging through my belongings. I did raise this as an issue and had a lock fitted to my door; so as to prevent this happening. It was a unhappy time for a while, but is ok now. Iam an Epileptic with bowel cancer and I am so medicated,I almost rattle when I move. It would be easy to blame my health on Nam and some doctors have suggested exactly that. I was assessed in a hospital as being unable to care for myself, hence I am here and not liking it at all. It is very lonely for me as I have very very few ex soldiers to communicate with and attempting to have a conversation with some poor soul with Dementia is difficult; they can remember what the postmans name was when they were 10, but today is lost to them. I have searched around on my computer and I found another nursing home named after a Victoria Cross awarded ex soldier. His name was Keith Payne and he was awarded the VC for a very brave action in NAM. I might see if they can send me some info about the place, with a view to moving there. I do not have much choice as I require a high level of care. MY ex soldiers Gold Card gives me the option to do so and will cover any costings; except removal of my meagre belongings. Iwill not reach 75 years old, the disease is terminal.


Lex