The Victorian Minister for Ageing, Ingrid Stitt MP, this week visited the Boollam Boollam Aged Care Centre – Monash Health’s newest facility – for a ‘first look’, to meet with future residents and officially unveil the centre’s name.
Joined by Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer Rachelle Anstey and the local Member for Clarinda Meng Heang Tak, the Minister was taken on a tour of the centre and met with two residents who will call the centre home: Glenda, who currently lives at Allambee and Jennifer, living at Mooraleigh Hostel.
The tour was led by Divisional Director Medicine, Aged, Community and Mental Health Andrew Slattery and Acting General Manager/Acting Director of Nursing Residential Aged Care Raul Labastida.
‘We are really excited to open this facility,’ Rachelle said. ‘All 94 residents who have been living in our current aged care homes will be moving into Boollam Boollam and our dedicated residential aged care team is looking forward to welcoming them over the coming weeks and months.’
9News captured the excitement of the occasion.
The Boollam Boollam Aged Care Centre replaces three residential aged care homes – Allambee, Mooraleigh and Yarraman – and has been built on the site of the former Eastwood aged care home at the Kingston Centre in Heatherton.
Boollam Boollam means ‘butterflies’
Monash Health is proud to have partnered with the Bunurong Land Council to name this home ‘Boollam Boollam’, which in a language of the Kulin Nation refers to butterflies, a symbol of life changes and metamorphosis.
State-of-the-art, dementia-friendly
The centre has 150 beds and is designed to cater to individuals with complex care needs, older people living with mental health illness and those requiring ageing-in-place services. Resident rooms are grouped in households, with their own colour scheme and themes. Unique artwork is positioned to help residents locate their rooms.
Each household is on a separate floor and the care team will only work on that specific floor, helping residents to build bonds and also to assist with keeping any illnesses contained. Households have their own kitchen, lounge and relaxation areas.
Our team will deliver best-practice care in an environment that promotes independence and privacy. There is also a section for high-acuity residents which has been designed to ensure their wellbeing and safety is maintained.
‘All our employees from the homes that will close will move across to Boollam Boollam. They are all looking forward to welcoming residents here soon and are excited to work here. How could they not be? This is an amazing facility,’ Rachelle said.
Key features of Boollam Boollam include:
- Single rooms with private ensuites
- Communal dining and lounge areas
- Gym and rehabilitation area
- Theatre room
- Spaces to entertain family and friends
- Beautifully landscaped gardens and vegetable patches
Celebrating Aged Care Employee Day
The visit by Minister Stitt coincides with Aged Care Employee Day on 7 August, a day where we recognise and celebrate aged care workers, like the wonderful teams across Monash Health, who care for and support our older people. Whether they be preparing meals, providing personal care or organising activities, employees in aged care know what a wonderfully rewarding career it is.