The Minister for Senior Victorians Lisa Neville and resident Doris Hyland at the official opening of Chestnut Gardens Aged Care Facility. 30056
By Kelly Yates
DOVETON is now home to a new $27.7 million state-of-the-art aged care facility which is set to become Australia’s first teaching nursing home.
Chestnut Gardens, which is run by Southern Health, was officially opened this week by the Minister for Senior Victorians Lisa Neville.
“We are committed to ensuring that aging Victorians remain living close to their friends, while receiving the best possible care. Doveton is in a population growth corridor and Chestnut Gardens provides public residential accommodation for people living in the area,” she said.
The new 100-bed facility will cater for older people with high care or aged mental health needs and is staffed by qualified nurses.
Residents with changing care needs will no longer have to face the disruption of changing homes to cater to their needs.
Resident couple Harry and Valda Almond have, for the first time, been able to continue living together.
“For years we have been living apart because she needed constant care,” Mr Almond said.
“It was very lonely being at home without her. Now I can live with her again, and we can spend our golden years together.”
Located in Chestnut Road, the new facility includes extensive gardens, terracing and a barbecue, allowing the residents to dine outdoors and develop their own gardens.
The complex also has a lifestyle program to keep the residents physically and mentally active with bingo, chess, and cricket activites.
Chestnut Gardens was built as a series of houses and was established through collaboration between Southern Health and Deakin University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The Brumby Government has invested $445 million to upgrade 47 residential aged care facilities across Victoria since 1999.
