Clifton Hill Aged Care officially opened

Our BSL Clifton Hill Aged Care was officially opened on 4 February after being in operation since just before the COVID pandemic struck in 2020.

This significant milestone was marked by a beautiful Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Bill Nicholson. This was followed by speeches about the long road and many hands involved in the creation of this remarkable facility.

The Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, gave an inspiring speech about the aged care reform agenda and BSL’s unique contribution to caring for older people in Australia over many decades. The government-funded and accredited not-for-profit aged care facility supports more than 110 residents. It is particularly noteworthy that over 50 per cent of residents were at risk of homelessness before arriving, with many referrals coming from local welfare organisations and hospitals.

Clifton Hill Aged Care provides 24/7 accommodation and personal care in a purpose-built and architecturally designed facility that has strong connections with the local community. The innovative nurse-led staffing model is employed to meet the often complex and unique needs of older people, fostering greater connections between staff and residents, improving the quality of care for residents, as well as enhancing recruitment, retention, and career pathways for staff.

Many people from across the BSL community were acknowledged during the launch for their contributions to the centre's successful set up and current operations . Attendees were treated to guided tours, afternoon tea, and an art exhibition created by the residents during their Art Workshops led by Leah Bright.

As well as providing access to a wide range of health and allied health services, our Clifton Hill Aged Care Residence also delivers specialised care and tailored activities for residents with dementia. The Lifestyle Enrichment program helps residents access a varied and dedicated program of activities where they can engage and connect including music, art, gardening, caring for animals and social outings around Melbourne.

Our staff focus on supporting residents to live a life that they value. We work with residents to support the important links they have with their family, friends, and the local community. In this way, we foster genuine social inclusion – at official events like this and in the day to day running of this architecturally beautiful and unique aged care service.