Yesterday there was cake, songs and speeches as aged care provider BaptistCare NSW opened its new Home Care office in Ballina, providing a hub for clients and staff as the ageing population grows across the region.
Things kicked off with a smoking ceremony and welcome from Bundjalung man Uncle Gilbert Laurie, who explained the traditional names and meanings of the surrounding area, said the traditional name for elders came from the colour for smoke, and taught everyone to say bugelbeh (thank you).
Kia Handley from BaptistCare says the new Ballina hub is part of a strategy to help address changing customer demands and help clients stay at home, living their best life, for as long as possible.
‘So we go in and help with whatever they need help with, sometimes it can be a trip to the grocery store, or cleaning, or cooking, and they’re able to have that regular connection with our incredible home care staff, and keep their independence.’
BaptistCare chaplain Janet Whiting talked about the organisation’s 80 years of service ‘transforming lives’, before Senior Manager Wendy Mason spoke about the expansion of the organisation in the Northern Rivers, both in at home care and other areas.
‘BaptistCare demonstrated its strong commitment to this region during those terrible floods in January 2022. We were one of the first providers to bring resources into the area. Our nursing home at Coraki was totally surrounded by water and cut off. So we hired a helicopter, and brought in stuff from Sydney, who literally slept on the floor so that we could continue to care for our residents in the nursing home.’
Ms Mason said one staff member used to canoe to work every day from her home, so that she could continue to provide care to the residents in the facility, with BaptistCare also raising over $200,000 which went directly to people who had been affected by the floods.
In terms of home care, she said the move to the new base in Ballina reflected the growth in demand for services in the home to clients across the whole region.
Congratulations
A home care client named Wendy was not able to be at the event, but sent a card to staff saying, ‘thank you for your kindness and care and all you do for me. You all brighten my day, and I feel like I’m among friends. Congratulations on moving to your beautiful new premises.’
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader then spoke, saying it was wonderful to see BaptistCare coming to Ballina, as part of the wider growth story of the town. ‘At times like this, when people are experiencing change and vulnerability in their lives, it’s really important that we have those who care so deeply about people here in our community.’
Her message for the elders present was ‘stay fit, stay healthy, stay happy, and most of all, keep having fun!’
She told the Echo it was wonderful to see the connectivity between BaptistCare staff and clients, as well as one another.
The Home Care team currently comprises 50 staff providing services to more than 390 clients across the region. That translates to two and a half thousand hours of care provided by Baptist Care Home Care to seniors in the Northern Rivers each month, and that number is growing.
By 2061, 25 per cent of the population in Australia will be aged 65 or over (up from 17 per cent today), and there will be 2.4 people of traditional working age to support each person aged 65 and over – a significant decline from today’s ratio of 3.9 people.
Exciting opportunities
Sarah Newman, General Manager for BaptistCare Home Care services, says the new hub will provide a space for aged care employment opportunities for locals in the community.
‘We’re excited about the expansion of BaptistCare Home Care services in Ballina and are rapidly adding allied health, care management, clinical and direct care workers to our team.
‘Our new hub will provide local seniors with support for their care needs and social connectivity, enabling them to continue living independently in their own homes,’ she said.
102 year old Josef Van Dommele was present at the event with his family, and cut the official cake. Mr Van Dommele said he was still able to live at home with the support of the home care service.
He told the The Echo, ‘My connection to BaptistCare started four years ago, because my daughter-in-law said to me, “Opa, you’re paying too much for your care.” I said “what can I do about it?” She said, ‘Join BaptistCare!”
‘I’ve been there a few years now, they’re a marvellous mob.’ Mr Van Dommele said the secret to staying healthy in old age was eating lots of fruit.
Elaine McCormack has been a BaptistCare client for more than a decade and was thrilled to celebrate the expansion of the service that has allowed her to remain independent.
‘There are these little moments when you suddenly realise that you’re getting old and you’re not as independent as you need to be and that’s a big change in your life when you’ve been independent for so many years,’ she said.
‘But the transition was made easier by the wonderful quality of care I’ve had and the staff who come and end up being friends. By taking care of some of the things I need help with, I’ve been able to stay independent in so many other areas of my life.’
Great asset
At least 854,300 people living in NSW provide ongoing care and support to a family member or friend. That means that more than 1 in 8 NSW residents is a carer.
‘We believe our new hub in Ballina will be a great asset to older people and their families needing access to care services,’ said Sarah Newman.
‘Providing social contact and stimulating activities for our clients in the region is vital for BaptistCare to continue providing the best quality care and to continue improving the sector for future ageing Australians in regional areas.’
In addition to Home Care, BaptistCare operates several other services across the Northern Rivers region. This includes residential aged care in Coraki (Mid Richmond Centre), retirement living (Maranoa Village) and residential aged care (Maranoa Centre) in Alstonville, community housing (Garimaleh Place and Illowra Place), and temporary housing for those impacted by the flood disaster at the Coraki Housing Village
BaptistCare operates across NSW, the ACT and WA.
The organisation has been serving the aged and people living with disadvantage since 1944, currently supporting over 24,000 people across more than 100 locations.
As well as providing home care, services include residential aged care, retirement living, and community services such as affordable housing, no-interest loans, and services for women and children escaping violence.
