Texas, Queensland, community pushes for local aged care facility

Joan White and her husband Alan, affectionately known as Stumpy, did everything together.

They were side-by-side for 58 years of marriage, raising three sons and navigating the highs and lows of being primary producers on their Texas property on Queensland's southern border.

The former country mayor said she thinks euthanising 62 head of cattle rather than having them starve to death due to drought in 2015 was the beginning of the end for her husband.

Mr White soon developed dementia, and the couple sold their farm and moved to town in 2018 to be closer to care.

"It became really, really horrendous," she said.

Ms White said her husband was sent to Millmerran, 120 kilometres away, to be cared for in an aged care facility after she had a heart attack.

In the small country town, there is no public transport and barely any traffic, but the number of mobility scooters used in the area highlights a big problem facing the aging community.

A sign outside the post office reads "Texas is a dementia friendly community" and features a picture of Mr and Ms White.

And while Texas has a median age of 53, 15 years higher than the rest of the country, it does not have an aged care facility.

Ms White is the driving force behind a community push to build a facility that could keep older people, including those with dementia, in their hometown.

The Texas Care Foundation Limited is a board of community members pulled together by the gaps in services for older people.

Joan and Alan are not alone

Aged care is a high priority for many of the town's 800 residents.

Brian Mearns, 83, and his wife Annette Mearns, 84, say they are on a "downhill run" both with serious health problems.

"I tell her she can leave anytime she likes, but I'm coming with her," Mr Mearns jokes.

"He's been telling me that for 60 years," she replies.

But the couple, who are due to celebrate their 60th anniversary in a few months, said the thought of being separated was "absolutely traumatic".

"You're used to someone in bed beside you at night and you're used to talking to someone at the table … and togetherness," Ms Mearns said.

They keep themselves busy tending to a beautiful garden, including 110 fruit trees, but accept there will be a time they will have to leave it behind.

They will likely move closer to family in Dalby, more than 200km away, but are supportive of the push for a local aged care facility.

Cristine Miller, 75, and her 80-year-old husband were "taking each day at a time" but said they share the same worries.

"I just hope and pray I can look after Brian forever," she said.

Sally-Ann Masters said dementia was her only fear in life after she saw her mother go from being a strong lady "back to being a little girl" when she was living with the condition.

"You grieve them twice. You grieve them while you're nursing them, and you grieve them when they've gone," she said.

Small community, big challenges

Rural GP Colin Owen has lived in the nearby town of Inglewood, 55km away, for 58 years, and has many patients from Texas.

He said in his opinion, home was the best place for people with dementia to be looked after.

But Dr Owen said when someone needs an aged care facility, it was best in the patient's hometown.

Securing the site

Despite the challenges, Texas Care Foundation Limited has earmarked a 3.5-hectare property for an aged care home.

While Ms White said it would be a big task, but the group aims to raise $750,000 to secure the site in the next 12 months.

Board member Warwick Trim, the owner of a fuel supplier in town, said he felt it was his responsibility to become involved.

"We need something like this in Texas, not just now, but that will be for years and probably generations to come as well," he said.

"We're all going to get old one day."

Mr White said she would not stop until her big dream was a reality, motivated by her husband's memory.

She smiles when remembering Stumpy's final days, when she would climb into his hospital bed, and the nurses would say, "Look at these lovebirds".

"If he could touch my skin and I could rub his hand or rub his leg, he knew I was there," she said.