Latest News

Jessica joined our Harden Grange team when we opened the doors two years ago and she loves making sure residents are comfortable and feel at home.

As a Service Support Worker, she helps create welcoming spaces, ensuring the households are clean, bedding is laundered, and that the residents enjoy freshly washed and pressed clothing.

What do you love about Harden Grange?

The team is lovely and we all work together to create a friendly atmosphere for everyone. I love being able to have conversations with residents as I go about my tasks. They always have something interesting to say.

How do you make a positive difference to residents?

I can see that residents appreciate having their laundry back on time and having a perfectly clean and tidy home every day. But I can also see they appreciate me taking the time to engage with them and show them love and respect.

Do you have any advice for others considering working in aged care?

Go for it! It’s such a satisfying role and you learn a lot being around the elderly. Harden Grange is a fantastic place to work. We are a team that’s more like one big, happy family.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

It was a thrilling day when residents received a visit from the 2024 Melbourne Cup and were able to hold and feel the weight of one of Australia’s most iconic trophies.

Harden was one of only 39 destinations across six countries selected for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, and residents loved being a part of the prestigious event that brought the community together.

Resident, Bev, declared it was the best day of her life!

Those attending had the opportunity to hear from Greg Miles, renowned sports broadcaster, who called the race for over 35 years, and many recognised his voice!

The special visit was organised by Harden Pony Club Administrator, Courtney Jones, a pet therapy volunteer at Harden Grange who is always looking for opportunities to enrich the lives of residents

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

Wednesday mornings are a very special time at Harden Grange. Our main lounge room is filled with chatter and laughter as children from Murrumburrah Public School arrive to visit their older friends.

Harden Grange’s popular intergenerational program bridges the gap between these two generations, helping participants form special bonds and friendships.

The children and residents enjoy playing games and puzzles, colouring in and reading stories together, and each visit is followed by a delicious homemade morning tea. During these regular interactions, residents can be seen playing, laughing and enjoying the spirited joy that children bring to the home environment.

Manager, Lucy, says bringing these groups together provides both generations with a valued opportunity to share knowledge and learn from each other. “It’s so uplifting to see how much fun the children and residents have during these visits!”

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

A new software solution, called Simple Foods, is improving mealtimes for residents and the Catering team at Harden Grange.

The system enhances the meal ordering experience for residents. Instead of reading or listening to menu options, residents can whet their appetites by viewing enticing images of the choices on offer.

They can instantly understand and select the meal that most visually appeals to them. Importantly, Simple Foods ensures that staff are up to date with residents’ changing meal preferences and diet requirements by automating the management of allergens, texture modifications and particular likes and dislikes.

The Catering team is also reaping the benefits with easier planning, preparation and personalisation of food options. This ensures they can provide residents with consistently high-quality meals while also meeting food safety and compliance requirements.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

For neighbours Judy, Gloria, Marion and Edie, one of the best things about living at Harden Grange is coming together to enjoy a homemade lunch every day.                         

“We have our usual table where we sit and lunch is always a very social occasion. The girls and I have a good chat over our meals. We talk about a whole host of topics, but mostly about our families and all the happenings in the local area,” said Judy.                                                        

Gloria says this daily ritual is something she really looks forward to.                               

“When I first moved here, I felt a little lonely, but coming to the dining room has been a wonderful way to meet new friends. I’m certainly not lonely anymore!”

Marion and Edie both enjoy the atmosphere of the dining room, saying there’s always a positive energy at mealtimes.                        

“Chef Doug and his team are always checking we’re happy with our lunches”, she says.

“There’s so much variety in the menu. I’d reached a point living on my own where I wasn’t cooking full meals for myself, but now I’m enjoying three nutritious meals every day, plus Doug’s baked treats for morning and afternoon tea. We’re actually very spoilt!”

Two of their favourite meals from this season’s menu are fish and chips and lamb cutlets served with fresh vegetables.

 “My family always had a tradition of having fish on a Friday and it’s lovely that I can still enjoy this at Harden Grange every week.”

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

Shellie-Anne, our bubbly and much-loved Administration Officer, asked her husband, Jay, if he’d be interested in taking some Harden Grange residents out for a drive in his Valiant – called Shirley. Jay jumped at the chance! 

He proudly showed off his beautifully restored S Series from 1961 and then took Ray, Allan and Norm for a leisurely drive on the open road through Harden and Wombat. 

The residents thoroughly enjoyed this outing and even more have lined up to go cruising next time Jay and Shirley visit.  

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 5330 8000 or emailing info@hardengrange.com.au.

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.

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.