Waranga Health Upgrade Feature

CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF

THE MASSIVE $10 MILLION UPGRADE TO

Waranga Health

Rushworth’s healthcare facilities have undergone major change COMMUNITY CARE COMBINED… From left, Waranga Health supervisor, Pauline Holt, Waranga Health project manager model of care, Sadie Vale, Commercial Industrial Construction Group project manager, Jake Symes, GV Health executive director of Infrastructure, Sandy Chamberlin and Waranga Health interim manager, Jeanette Webster. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

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Waranga Health

Major aged care facility opens in Rushworth Rushworth’s healthcare facilities have undergone major change for the better, with the completion of the re-development and co-location of the Waranga Aged Care Hostel and the Waranga Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home.

Situated in the very centre of town, the redeveloped Waranga Health is conveniently close to parklands and shops. The new

COMFORTABLE SPACE, GREAT SERVICES… Waranga Health resident, Gwen Hitchcock has seen much change over the last seven years and is impressed with the level of care offered by staff. Photo: Katelyn Morse

integrated healthcare facility will be the onestop location for all of Rushworth’s acute, aged-care, primary care, and community health services.

Work commenced on the new building in September 2017 with the help of $10 million in funding from the Victorian State Government. The building will ensure services are streamlined across the entire Rushworth health sector, providing more adequate care for all within the community.

The pre-existing aged care facility on High Street has had a complete renovation, with a new wing developed on site to welcome the amalgamation.

Residents, staff and services from the decommissioned Waranga Memorial Hospital Waranga Health and Nursing Home will supervisor, Pauline be relocated to the Holt believes that all staff new Waranga Health facility. All staff from have done an exceptional both locations are able job, despite a few teething to stay and continue problems, to ensure their employment and there are actually extra residents remain recruitment opportunities dutifully cared for. that have been created.

Waranga Health project manager model of care, Sadie Vale has worked at Waranga’s District Nursing Service for 25 years in both clinical and management roles. She says the new move has involved much input from stakeholders, the Rushworth community, staff and residents.

“We have received phenomenal and ongoing support through GV Health to help with developing and continuing our model of care in the new space. We want to ensure staff STREAMLINED ASSISTANCE… GV Health nurse, Ali Neville says that the co-location of facilities will make is assisted with adapting and transitioning everything more accessible for residents to utilise help from doctors and specialists. Photo: Katelyn Morse. into their new space.”

Employees at both facilities have worked during the final stages of the process, all space. Despite this, residents reported that tirelessly throughout this entire process, residents’ meals had to be prepared at the food always remained warm, on time never letting the tricky amalgamation of the old hospital kitchen offsite and moved and delicious, with not a single staff member services bother them. For over 75 days hundreds of metres across town to the new showing an ounce of stress.

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Waranga Health

Health department takes on board community feedback Without the input from the hard-working volunteers and members of the local Waranga Community Reference Group, Waranga Health would not be undergoing the monumental advancements witnessed today.

Clem Furphy commenced his involvement with local aged care way back in the early 1990s.

Mr Furphy fronted the Waranga Community Reference Group and initial fundraising push to raise half a million dollars to establish the original Waranga Aged Care Hostel.

Mr Furphy said that the job of the fivemember Waranga Community Reference Group was to be the voice for the local community, facilitating conversation and education between GV Health, both facilities

and the everyday Rushworth citizen.

“In a small town like this, change always causes concern,” Mr Furphy said, “But the health department have listened to all concerns and the wider region fully appreciates the need for an all-in-one service like this.

“I am very excited to be so heavily involved in a project like Waranga Health and would like to extend a warm thank you to the other members of the Waranga Community Reference Group, as well as the Friends of the Hostel group.”

SPEAKING FOR THE TOWN… Waranga Community Reference Group president, Clem Furphy and his team have been heavily involved in the process of liaising between the Rushworth community and healthcare facilities. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

Modern, spacious and light brings in a new era The re-development of Rushworth’s Waranga Health commenced in September 2017, with the three-stage plan finally about to be completed.

Stage one involved the completion and handover of ‘Whroo’ - the new eight-bed aged care unit. Stage two involved demolition of three zones and up-keeping existing services, to enable the rest of the facility to remain operational. Stage three involved fitting out existing buildings, lounge and dining rooms and completion of the carpark.

External work is still ongoing outside, but the main elements of the build are now complete.

Overall, residents will be able to enjoy a bright and modern space, with many nooks and zones for relaxing and socialising. There is a new activities room, lounge and dining area, each with wide windows allowing the natural light to flow throughout the space, promoting the gorgeous gardens surrounding the rooms.

Commercial Industrial Construction Group (CICG) project manager, Jake Symes said, “We’re very excited about the finished complex – everything looks fantastic. Throughout the process, we’ve also been very lucky to utilise the ongoing services of many local tradespeople, with as many as 40 staff onsite at any one time.”

WELCOME EXPANSION… The new lounge and dining area allows for better workflow between staff and residents, featuring expansive windows to let in natural light. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

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Waranga Health PLENTY OF SPACE TO STRETCH… The outdoor paved courtyard at the centre of Waranga Health is enclosed to protect residents from the wind and weather, with live musicians occasionally entertaining guests in this space.

Photo: Katelyn Morse.

“The most rewarding thing I’ve ever done” The new Waranga Health facility affords more zones for residents to get out and enjoy the serenity of the re-developed building and adjoining gardens.

A paved courtyard in the centre of the facility protects residents from the wind and elements. This space can even be utilised for live performances, with many musicians frequenting the facility to entertain guests.

An activities room has also been added, complete with a kitchen and projector screen for the residents much-loved movie nights. With a new fernery currently being built and the other two gardens undergoing refurbishment, residents of Waranga Health have plenty of reason to get out and about and enjoy their new space.

Diane Foot has been a volunteer at Waranga Health for about a year and a half and helps facilitate games and activities to keep residents happy. When we visited Waranga Health last week, Diane and some of the residents were engaged in a friendly game of ‘hallway bowls.’

“This is the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I would encourage everybody to get involved with helping the community,” Diane explained, “The residents have handled the transition so well and everyone is just happy to go with the flow.”

As we left, a resident bowled another ball down the stretch of hallway, narrowly edging the jack. An eruption of laughter followed, with staff and residents engaging in playful and friendly sporting banter.

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HALLWAY BOWLS… It was all smiles as Waranga Health staff, volunteers and residents engaged in a friendly match of ‘hallway bowls’ in the new ‘Whroo’ wing. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

Waranga Health

NEW HOME… PERSONALISED t sident, Margare re th e Waranga Heal er wh , ng wi ’ oo w ‘Whr e Swift is in the ne ur at fe to es to be able she says she lov tside ou d an e sid in mily photos of her fa se. oto: Katelyn Mor of her room. Ph

Plenty of space for mighty Tigers memorabilia The new ‘Whroo’ wing of Waranga Health houses eight rooms all decked out with state-of-the-art technology and features.

Residents now have better services, like larger bathrooms and a modern overhead ceiling track hoist. All of the rooms feature huge, flat-screen televisions and many feature gorgeous garden views and natural light.

At the front of each room in this particular wing, a little memory box is provided for photographs and keepsakes. This gives the residents a chance to completely

personalise the entirety of their own space, right down to the front door.

Resident, Margaret Swift has covered the desk in her room with plenty of photos of loved-ones and memorabilia for her beloved football team, the Richmond (and Rushworth) Tigers.

“I absolutely love my room,” Margaret said. “My family live all over the place, some as far as Darwin, so it’s nice to have the space to put all my photos up to remember them by - as well as all my cherished Tigers memorabilia, of course.”

100 year old Florence loves her new home Last year, Waranga Health resident Florence Clark was invited to Government House in Melbourne to celebrate the astonishing milestone of reaching 100 years of age.

In December, Florence attended the centenarian celebration with her carer, Chris Brown. Much to Florence’s delight, she was seated alongside ex-Governor General, Dame Quentin Bryce for morning tea. The pair enjoyed interesting discussion in the gorgeous Government building.

Soon to be turning 101, Florence is a great conversationalist, with a razer sharp wit.

Still mobile and quite independent, Florence makes her bed every day and enjoys using her walker to explore the new spaces.

“I get along with all the staff here exceedingly well,” Florence said, “I’ve been here for nearly two years and I absolutely love it.”

100 YEARS YOUNG… Waranga Health resident, Florence Clarke, recently celebrated her 100th birthday and was invited to a momentous party at Government House. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

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