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We love helping residents stay connected with their loved ones

A sprightly 90 years old, Maria is quite the adventurer who chose to celebrate her 80^th birthday with a tandem skydive, and was still camping on her own up until five years ago!

With seven children, 20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, she is never short of family visitors, and she now loves welcoming them to her home at Harden Grange where she continues to enjoy living her way.

“The staff here are wonderful. They respect my decisions and support me to do what I like to do. I’ve got everything I need right here. I love the café and the hairdresser, and I enjoy joining in the activities. It’s just so easy to live here. I really can’t praise Harden Grange highly enough,” said Maria.

For her daughters, Bernadette and Carmel, her move to Harden Grange has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We feel very lucky that Mum was able to move here. The care she receives is excellent and the staff support her with such kindness. She’s been able to personalise her suite and she really feels at home here.

“We visit regularly and always feel welcome. We take Mum to her favourite places in Harden, Young and Cootamundra, or just spend time together in one of the lovely spaces here, like the big verandah with the beautiful view of the Hilltops.”

“Mum loves living at Harden Grange, and we love knowing she’s so happy.”

To find out more about respite or permanent aged care at Harden Grange, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

Born and bred in Harden, Marilyn is an experienced Emergency Care Nurse and was the Clinical Nurse Educator at the neighbouring Murrumburrah-Harden District Hospital. When she heard this aged care community was being reopened, she jumped at the chance to join the team to help provide this valuable service to Hilltops locals.

What do you think makes Harden Grange so special?

This is a very inclusive community where everyone supports each other. You can feel the friendly and welcoming culture as soon as you walk through the doors. It’s a beautiful place full of amazing residents and staff, and I feel honoured to be Clinical Manager here.

What do you love most about your role?

I love being part of such an innovative and progressive aged care team, and using my experience and clinical skills to tailor holistic care for each resident. I also love hearing the residents’ stories and finding out about their life before they moved to Harden Grange. Their unique experiences can teach us all so much.

How would you describe your Clinical Care team?

They are the best! We work as a united team focused on providing resident-first care. We’re also supported by the latest technology, like CareKeeper. This mobile device is provided to every care worker, so they can record clinical notes and actions in real time. This means we can spend more time with residents, and less time doing paperwork.

Why does Harden Grange feel like home?

We really focus on doing whatever we can to help residents feel at home, whether that’s furnishing their room with their favourite belongings, supporting them to continue their familiar routine or pastime, or helping them keep connected with loved ones.

To find out more about our welcoming community, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

2023: Harden Grange’s Year in Review

Our care:

• The latest Resident Experience survey results reported that 80% of residents rated their quality of life at Harden Grange as ‘Excellent’
• Awarded full accreditation by the Australian Government’s Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission
• Staff rosters optimised to ensure every resident receives more time with Nurses and Carers

Our team:

• Work Rite culture program reported a steady increase in staff wellbeing, achievement, connection and performance in our first year
• Our locals-first employment approach has increased permanent staff numbers, reducing our need for temporary staff

Our community:

• A full, country-style refurbishment completed
• In less than a year from opening, 43 of our 45 private suites have become home to Hilltops residents

All of these achievements mean we have been able to welcome more locals, and our community has become an even better place to live and work.

Originally from Poland and a survivor of a German World War II camp, Stella moved to Australia with her Mother when she was 15 years old. She first lived in Cowra, then moved to Wollongong when she married, before settling in Harden over 34 years ago.

What do you like about living at Harden Grange?

I think the happiest times in my life have been spent in this town, and to be able to remain living here means everything. I love being part of the Harden Grange community very much and I keep as active as I can, joining in the activities and encouraging other residents to participate, too.

What things do you like to do here?

I love knitting. I first learnt to knit by watching other women in the camp in Germany. I would stand behind them and try to follow their movements, until one day, one of them showed me how to do it properly. I now sit in the loungeroom here and do my knitting, and it’s very peaceful.

What do you make?

I knit woollen squares and donate them to a charity called ‘Quilting Hugs for Ukrainians’. They sew my squares into blankets and send them to those in Ukraine who have been displaced due to the war. I’m so happy to do this because I love helping people. It gives me purpose knowing that something I’ve made can make a difference to someone on the other side of the world.

To find out more about respite or permanent aged care at Harden Grange, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

Harden Grange is proud to be part of the Apollo Care Alliance that beat a field of over 200 submissions from 15 countries to win two major awards at the prestigious 11th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards 2023 in Singapore.

Distinguished judges from the UK, Finland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand awarded Apollo Care Innovation of the Year (Productivity) for organisational efficiencies and delivery of quality care. Apollo Care was also a finalist in two other categories – Operator of the Year (Residential Aged Care) and Innovation of the Year (Caregiver Model).

Accepting the award, Apollo Care’s CEO Stephen Becsi OAM said, “We took our new aged care industry model to an international stage and showed that it works for everyone – residents, their families, care workers, vendors and investors.”

“Apollo Care invests in innovation to make aged care better for residents and staff. 

“We strengthen each of our community’s care and operations through enhanced productivity, efficiency, compliance and, most importantly, resident experience,” Mr Becsi explained.

“At Harden Grange, for example, residents and staff are enjoying the benefits of a range of improvements and upgrades, including extensive country-style refurbishments, a cutting-edge cloud-based IT system, new hand-held mobile devices for every care worker, and a progressive clinical governance system.

“It’s important to us that aged care services are sustained in regional areas, so locals needing residential care can stay connected to their community where they feel they belong,” said Mr Becsi.

Since commencing in 2020, Apollo Care has acquired seven communities and is in advanced negotiations to acquire a further six. This makes Apollo Care one of Australia’s fastest growing aged care providers.

Apollo Care was built from the ground up by a team of four industry veterans with a cumulative 85 years’ experience. In addition to Stephen Becsi, formerly CEO of Bethanie, WA’s largest NFP provider, Apollo Care’s leadership team comprises Barry Ashcroft, former CEO of Domain Aged Care, now Opal; Kylie Radburn, former National Care Governance Manager at Aveo; and John Young, a leading equity capital specialist.

“Our collective experience and ability to innovate are also crucial to addressing the tight labour market in Australia,” says Mr Becsi. “Attracting and retaining staff is a significant challenge and we’re constantly investing in our workforce. This includes measuring job satisfaction and productivity across the organisation via our proprietary dashboard,” said Mr Becsi.

To find out more about Harden Grange, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000.

In positive news for the Hilltops Region, Harden Grange Aged Care Community has been so well supported by locals that over 50% of the private suites are now occupied. This significant milestone comes less than four months after opening – well ahead of Apollo Care’s initial expectations. As a result of this demand, the Community is now able to offer more job opportunities to locals.

Kylie Radburn, Apollo Care Chief Governance Officer and Chairperson of HRDC Community Limited, the not-for-profit entity that operates Harden Grange, said that this news reflects how much the wider community values having a quality aged care provider in the local area.

“We knew that locals wanted the opportunity to stay living in this beautiful region as they age, and we’re delighted that Harden Grange is fulfilling that need for so many residents already,” said Ms Radburn.

Residential Service Manager, Lucy Rowe, added that the refurbishments throughout Harden Grange have now been completed.

“Each household has been fully renovated using a heritage colour scheme and country-style furniture and fittings. There’s also a homely loungeroom with a fireplace in each household, where residents love to relax,” said Lucy.

“Respite care at Harden Grange offers locals an opportunity to trial living here without committing to a long-term contact. We have found every resident who has trialled, though, has decided to stay on as permanent resident which is testament to how much they enjoyed their time with us.”

Lucy also reported that the strong increase in Harden Grange’s occupancy has translated into team growth.

“We’ve recently welcomed new Registered Nurses, Support Services staff, and a number of new Personal Care Workers – all of whom are locals!

“We’re still looking for more team members, though, particularly to add to our Nursing, Care and Lifestyle teams and we’ll continue our locals-first recruitment strategy wherever possible,” she said.

“Harden Grange also offers flexible career pathways for TAFE or high-school students, or those returning to the workforce. We function as a living classroom where students or trainees can learn in a real-world setting, supported not only by their teachers, but by our team of caring professionals.”

To find out more about our respite or permanent aged care at Harden Grange, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

Harden Grange is one of the first aged care communities in south-west New South Wales to introduce CareKeeper, a cutting-edge mobile technology that enhances the delivery of care to residents.

The community is part of the Apollo Care Alliance, a progressive national provider that uses innovation to make aged care better for residents and staff.

CareKeeper, developed by Telstra Health, allows every Nurse, Carer and Lifestyle Team Member to access important information about each resident’s care needs, including clinical information and lifestyle choices and preferences, on a handheld mobile device in real time.

All staff are able to quickly view, action and record care information or tasks while being at the resident’s side.

Each resident’s individual preferences, such as choice of daily routine or favourite activities, are also accessible giving staff more opportunities to engage meaningfully with residents to provide a truly holistic care experience.

Staff are excited about the rollout of the technology saying it reduces paperwork and time spent at nurse’s stations.

“I love this technology! It gives our team all the up-to-date information we need at our fingertips. It’s far more efficient than paper charts because we only need to input information once, and there’s less risk of error. This increased efficiency allows us to spend more quality time with each resident,” said Registered Nurse, Kylie Hayter.

The Lifestyle Team agrees.

“I can look at CareKeeper and instantly see what kind of activities or hobbies a resident enjoys, or I can access notes that can spark lovely conversations. This makes for a more positive and personal way to engage with residents,” Debbie Tonkin commented.

CareKeeper is part of Apollo Care’s overall strategy to ensure every care worker is equipped with a mobile device that delivers wider benefits including enhanced team collaboration.

To find out more about our welcoming country-style community, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

Since opening its doors in January, the newly renovated Harden Grange Aged Care Community has warmly welcomed 23 residents.

Most of these are returning locals who have been overjoyed to return to the Hilltops Region.

For resident, Gloria Corey, being able to call Harden home once again means everything.

“I used to live in the Retirement Village here but moved to Port Macquarie to live with my son, Trevor. When my care needs increased, I had to move to an aged care community in Port Macquarie because there was no aged care community in Harden,” said Gloria.

“When my son told me that Harden Grange was opening and I could move back home, I was so happy! I’m very attached to this beautiful area. There’s nothing like living where you were raised.”

Gloria moved to Harden Grange in February and has wasted no time in making this community feel like home.

“I can spend my day any way I like. After all, at almost 96 years old, I should be able to make my own decisions! The staff here support me to remain as independent as possible, and they care for me so wonderfully,” Gloria said.

A regular visitor to Harden’s on-site hairdressing salon, Gloria also loves spending time in the café, in one of the sunny courtyards or enjoying meals with other residents in the dining room.

“We’re lucky to have so many welcoming spaces here to use as we wish. And the food is freshly made here, too. I especially love the sweets!”

From her private suite, Gloria enjoys sweeping views over the surrounding hills and can even see her former unit in the Retirement Village.

“I spent five very happy years in that unit, and I love being able to look out of my window and see it now. I have visits from my old neighbours there, Peggy and Judy.

“Harden Grange is a safe, welcoming and familiar place to live. I really do feel like I’ve come home.”

At Harden Grange, we love making residents feel at home. To find out more about our welcoming country-style community, please contact our friendly team by calling (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au

Respite care in Harden Grange Aged Care Community can be a safe and affordable short-term solution for older locals needing some extra support.

Families can enjoy peace of mind knowing that their loved one will be cared for in a community designed to feel like home, while being supported to remain as independent as possible.

Respite care is commonly used to ensure a loved one receives the care they need following a planned surgery, or when recovering from an illness or injury.  

Respite care can also provide partners and families with the opportunity to take a much-needed break from their caring role.

Harden Grange respite guests enjoy a private suite with their own ensuite, country-style meals, housekeeping and laundry service.  Guests can also join our lifestyle program, visit the on-site hairdressing salon and café, and receive pastoral support.

All residents receive personalised, around-the-clock care from a team of Registered Nurses and Carers.

And with the Government subsidising a component of the daily charge for eligible guests, respite can be surprisingly affordable.

To find out more about respite care at Harden Grange, including funding options, call our friendly team on (02) 5330 8000. We can answer your questions and guide you through every step of the process.