I’ve just been down to an Open Day at Regis Parklands in Lanita Rd Ferny Grove.
Met Brian Marieann (volunteer manager).
They showed me round.
There are two types of rooms – double and single. Double rooms have 2 beds 2 little wardrobes 2 flat screen TVs bedside cupboards and a shared bathroom (shower toilet handbasin).
The rooms are fully air-conditioned. Does one have a choice of not having air-conditioning on?
Meals are cooked on-site. Residents are offered a choice (between two mains).
There is quite a large garden which is ringed by a high security fence. The front door also requires a code to get out.
Visitors can come anytime and there is a coffee-shop area near the foyer.
The facility is ‘fully-bonded’ which means that everyone coming in has to pay a bond of a minimum of $300000 (and possibly more) plus a range of daily charges.
Having said that they also offer a respite service which does not attract the bond. Respite is offered for a minimum 2-week stay.
All people coming to stay (including respite) have to have an ACAT assessment first.
There seem to be 4 types of charges. A basic daily charge that everyone pays (85% of the pension); an individual daily charge which is assessed on extra income; an extras charge; and some of the activities are charged for (?having hair done…)
I met a friend coming out who has a relative living there. She said the service is excellent but extremely difficult to afford. She is really struggling financially as a direct result of the cost of having her husband being cared for there.
There are about 120 staff about 130 residents and about 8 volunteers at the moment. At this stage it is not full. Volunteers are welcome. A police check is needed but Regis covers the cost of this. Some training is given.
The place has a good feel