Retirement Communities

Editorial by Jim Birch, AM – Chair, Calvary Health Care Published 4 May 2021 in The Adelaide Advertiser Support for Voluntary Assisted Dying is strong. Plenty of polls will testify to this. Ask most people if they should have control of their lives and deaths and they will say of

Many Australians know someone who has been diagnosed with, or has cared for, someone with dementia. We want to help, but how? Calvary is supporting the Step Up for Dementia Research program. StepUp is a research participation and engagement service, a “one-stop shop” that connects individuals – both with and

On 2 March 2021, the Australian National University (ANU) and Calvary Health Care formalised their partnership in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that extends their joint activities, beyond the ACT to Calvary Health Care nationally.

At Calvary we pride ourselves on the provision of high quality care delivered by dedicated Calvary staff across Australia.

This time last year, Aaron Reynolds was working in a construction job. Now he has found his calling, caring for older men living with dementia. The 22-year-old from Kitchener is one of nine local people who are part of the latest intake of trainee care workers at Calvary Cessnock Retirement

My recipe has always been that if you care about someone else more than you care about yourself … well, it comes back a hundred fold.

Katherine Ryan has been the welcoming face and voice behind the reception desk at Calvary Cessnock Retirement Community for the past 20 years.

Information for patients, aged care residents and visitors.

An official Site Blessing of the new Calvary St Catherine’s Retirement Community occurred on Thursday 15th October. Located in Berri, South Australia, the development will deliver a new aged care residence on a greenfield site to replace the existing facility. The design will allow for future expansion, and has been

An initiative to connect some of Calvary’s Newcastle aged care residents to pen pals at a local primary school during the Covid-19 lockdown won hearts and minds when it featured on The Sunday Project television program. The targeted letter writing program prompted the residents, many of whom have dementia, to

The surroundings might have changed at the new-look Ryde Residential Aged Care home, but the connections and bonds between residents and staff have not. Like the one between retired sea captain Stephen Alphonso and Pastoral Care Coordinator Glen Renton, who sat down recently to share some laughs, and their story.

Eighty residents recently made the move ‘next door’ to their new, purpose-built aged care home in the 8-hectare grounds of Calvary Ryde Retirement Community. General Manager Joseph Massih said the move marked the completion of the first stage of the $60 million major redevelopment, which will also include an additional

Aged Care Day recognises each and every Calvary team member that is involved in caring for older Australians, receiving home care or residential care services. Aged Care Employees Day puts these everyday heroes in the spotlight, celebrates them, and highlights the many different roles of those involved in the aged care journey.

More than 80 residential aged care residents at Calvary Ryde Retirement Community will move into the new Ryde Residential Aged Care facility in the first week of August. Their new home will have the best of both worlds – a brand new facility with single rooms, all with ensuites; and

The World Health Organisation has declared 2020 is the International Year of Nurses and Midwives, with International Midwives Day celebrations on Tuesday, May 5th and International Nurses Day celebration on Tuesday, May 12th.

Congratulations to Eileen McDonell (nee Greene), born in Coonamble, New South Wales, who turned 100 years old on Monday 2 March 2020. In 1942 Eileen joined the war effort, signing up with the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in Sydney. Posted to Richmond Air Force base she worked first

Calvary Bruce Public Hospital Bruce in partnership with Capital Health Network, were yesterday evening awarded an Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety Award for their “Trialling a Geriatric Rapid Acute Care Service in the ACT”. ACHS CEO, Dr Karen Luxford presented the award, saying the

It is a great pleasure to facilitate the Health 2040 Taskforce Report released today.

Over the past three days, 15 Pastoral Care and Mission personnel from Calvary’s hospitals, aged and community care streams have been in Melbourne, attending the annual National Conference of Spiritual Care Australia (SCA). Calvary is a proud supporter of the conference which this year attracted 250 attendees from across Australia

Calvary Ryde Retirement Community, in Sydney NSW, has a special place in the history of Calvary and the Little Company of Mary, as it was the second formal facility the LCM Sisters established following their arrival in Australia in 1885.

On 23rd of March Sister Eymard McNamara LCM celebrated her 105th birthday at a celebration with family, friends and her LCM community at Calvary Ryde Retirement Community.

On 19 June the ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (‘VAD’) comes into effect in Victoria. Since the Act’s passing in 2017, Catholic Health and Aged Care services in Victoria have been working together to ensure that we have a clear and consistent response to the Act. Our services are committed

Professor Nicholas Glasgow has been appointed as Chair of the Calvary Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute. Professor Glasgow takes over from the Inaugural Chair, Professor Liz Lobb. Professor knowledge, expertise and outstanding leadership have been invaluable in establishing the Institute as a leader in palliative and end

A new report commissioned by Catholic Health Australia (CHA) calls for the provision of more home-based palliative care services to relieve pressure on hospitals and save valuable health system dollars. CHA, the peak body for Catholic health and aged care service providers in Australia, launched the report today at Calvary

Calvary has again been awarded the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation for the fifth consecutive year. The WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation recognizes Calvary’s active commitment to achieving gender equality in our workplaces. Martin Bowles, Calvary’s National Chief Executive Officer and a WGEA Ambassador

Today marks the official commencement of the $60m redevelopment of Calvary Ryde Retirement Community. The redevelopment is on track for completion in early 2020. Plans commenced back in 2007 and after much discussion and lots of commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm the DA approval was granted in July 2017, works are now set

Over the last month, Calvary Mt Carmel residents have let their creativity soar, building their own town for the Woodlands ‘Build a Town’ competition. Calvary Mt Carmel were invited to participate in a regional inter facility aged care competition to Build a Town – 30 August 2018. Guidelines included involving

Thirty One Trainees were recognised at Calvary Cessnock Graduation Evening On Thursday 22 March over 160 employees, families and friends braved the wild weather to celebrate thirty one successful trainees’ graduation dinner and ceremony at Potters Tavern Marquee in the Hunter Valley. The special occasion was marked with National Director

Saturday 7 April   Calvary Muswellbrook Retirement Community are hosting a Country Fair and Open Day Join us for a tour of the brand new display villas or come and browse through the many market stalls. There will be a variety of stands including handmade crafts, a BBQ, cake stall

Sr Cecelia started volunteering at Calvary Cessnock in 2009. She uses her own hearing loss to assisting residents with hearing loss and improving their quality of life. The transformation in residents who have been helped and supported by Sr Cecelia is heartwarming to see. Speaking with residents shows you are never to old

This year Calvary Mt Carmel Retirement Community, in Maitland, introduced a new Mums and Bubs Club.

Calvary Cessnock showed the positive impact that movement and music can have on health, wellbeing and mobility in elderly people.

Our wonderful residents, staff, volunteers and families at Calvary Cooinda in Singleton hosted their annual Carols on 7 December.

Calvary Ryde Retirement Community employee Consolata Muthee was recognised for her achievements by being presented with the Young Acheiver’s award in the Celebration of African Australian Inc. NSW awards.

Cutting of the ribbon photo from L to R: Sr Maryellen Thomas RSJ, Sr Marion Gambin RSJ, Sr Raye Boyle LCM, Father Philip Marshall VG, Jim Birch AM, Sr Helen Kelly LCM, The Hon. John Watkins AM, Martin Bowles PSM, Sr Kathleen Cotterill LCM, Mrs Logan, Julie Dundon, Mr Logan,

To celebrate National Recycling Week, we wanted to share a message from Greg Robertson, the Domestic Services Manager here at Calvary Health Care ACT who continues to set high sustainability benchmarks for large businesses in the ACT. “I am very proud that Calvary have been awarded ACT’s largest recycler three

Calvary Retirement Communities employee Maxene Vernon (Max) has been recognised for 30 years of service within both Allandale and Calvary sites. Max has worked across many roles in her time at Calvary.

Pictured above from left: Sam’s wife Pam, Sam with Pickles and Sam’s son Ben. Sam and Pickles at Calvary Haydon Retirement Community.    Sam and Pickles were living at home together but the time came to move into an aged care facility. Sam was delighted that he could bring his

Resident Janet Marshall and her husband Jeff have been married for 57 years where they have dedicated most of their time to helping others. The couple continue their hobbies and their love of gardening at Calvary St Francis Retirement Community. Each day Jeff attends the aged care facility to visit

At Calvary Retirement Communities we have many fathers and grandfathers in various roles across our fifteen sites.Peter Hawkes, a father of three and grandfather of seven, has been working at Calvary Haydon in Bruce since its inception in 2007.

With a sense of unease and discomfort, Calvary noted several media articles over the weekend of 19 and 20 August 2017 which claim that the “Catholic church” is threatening to fire teachers, nurses and other employees who marry their same-sex partner if gay marriage is legalised. We reassure staff and

On Wednesday 23 August Calvary St Martin de Porres Retirement Community in Waratah celebrated their 25th Birthday.

Calvary Nazareth Retirement Community in Belmont North is a multicultural aged care facility that recognises and embraces the different backgrounds and heritage of the staff, residents and their families. Wednesday 9 August is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which recognises the unique cultures of the 370 million Indigenous peoples across the world, living in 90 countries and speaking over 7000 different languages.

Dying To Know Day, held on the 8 August, is an annual day of action dedicated to bringing to life conversations and community actions around death, dying and bereavement. Calvary Retirement Communities Director Mission Matthew Peel has been working in pastoral and palliative care for over 25 years.

United Nations International Friendship Day (Sunday 30 July 2017) celebrates the importance of strong bonds to help address crises and challenges. Moving into aged care can sometimes be difficult. Calvary residents Jean and Luisa have developed a close friendship since moving into Calvary St Francis in Eleebana.

Calvary Ryde Retirement Community employee Gordana Knezic loves her role in aged care. She has been working in the aged care industry and at Calvary Ryde for the past 30 years.

On Wednesday 12 of July Sr Mary Cecelia Creigh celebrated her diamond Jubilee as a Sister of St Joseph.

Over the past eight weeks students from St Philip’s Christian College have been visiting residents at Calvary Cessnock Retirement Community as part of their Young At Heart program.