AGED CARE: ‘Aren’t we lucky to live here?’
Beaconsfield couple say they have no regrets about choosing independent living.
Mackay
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RESIDENTS of an assisted living facility in Beaconsfield have moved to disassociate themselves from preliminary findings of the Aged Care Royal Commission and a public hearing into Queensland’s aged care inquiry.
Kerrisdale Gardens resident David Fordyce and his wife, Mary have lived independently at the facility for the past four years.
They said they had no regrets about choosing independent living and want others to know there are quality aged care facilities in the Mackay region.
“We think it’s a great place to live,” Mr Fordyce said.
“The family haven’t got to worry about us, because if we need assistance, it’s available to us.”
The Fordyce’s live in a three-bedroom villa at Kerrisdale Gardens, which they customised to suit their needs before they moved in.
And if they need extra care later in life, they can also upgrade to assisted living and full care options.
“Those that are in full care are really looked after. Each one of them is treated as an individual,” Mr Fordyce said.
And other residents seem to agree.
About 30 of them have signed a letter of support for Kerrisdale Gardens.
“At all levels, at all group discussions, one will always hear the comment, ‘aren’t we lucky to live here’?”, Mr Fordyce said.
The residents’ letter to the editor:
RECENT publicity regarding aged care homes following the release of the report by the committee set up to investigate the industry generally gives the community the impression that all aged care facilities fall into that category.
As a community of Kerrisdale Gardens, which is owned by Good Shepherd Lodge Ltd, we feel we should respond publicly to the publicity regarding those findings.
That report no doubt generalises the findings of that committee, and without doubt we recognise that finding; however, we hasten to correct the situation that, as always, there are exceptions to every situation.
Kerrisdale Gardens is regarded as a leader in its field of providing aged care within our community, offering, within the one facility three levels of support, complete independent living, independent living with assistance where required, and ongoing care.
As residents from all levels of support within Kerrisdale Gardens, and the Good Shepherd Lodge Group Ltd we wish to give notice that as a complete community we wish to disassociate ourselves with those findings.
People working within the aged care industry are usually special caring people, and this is reflected from management and staff at all levels within Good Shepherd Lodge Group, and this atmosphere flows right through the whole community within the complex.
At all levels, at all group discussions one will always hear the comment, “Aren’t we lucky to have made the decision to be here”.
(Signed byDavid Fordyce and 30 others – a representative group of residents of Kerrisdale Gardens)
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