Villa Maria's milestone initiative for young people in nursing homes is a reality |
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Villa Maria’s vision to transform the lives of young people with high level, complex care needs has been realised.
The Austin Street project in Alphington is Victoria’s first purpose-specific residence for ten young people, who have an Acquired Brain Injury resulting in high and complex medical and physical support needs, currently living in aged care nursing homes.
It is the result of three years of hard work by not-for-profit aged and disability services provider Villa Maria, with the support of the Department of Human Services and the families and organisations determined to see this home become a reality.
Villa Maria’s Chief Executive Officer Ms Valerie Lyons said the home – to be officially launched on Wednesday, August 18 by Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria and The Hon Lisa Neville, MP, Minister for Mental Health, Senior Victorians and Community Services – represented a new era; a new model of care that blended nursing care with rehabilitation and community inclusion.
“We are extremely proud to be pioneers of this wonderful home which reflects the needs, aspirations and life goals of its young residents,” Ms Lyons said.
“It will be a place where young people can live their lives to their full potential and be cared for in a holistic manner by family, friends and a strong professional network of people. It also reflects Villa Maria’s commitment to providing all people, irrespective of their age or ability, the opportunity to lead full and rewarding lives.”
The new and exciting development features cutting edge technology, including automatic doors to their rooms, to give the residents more independence and space, and other technology features aim to increase the amount of control and choice each resident will have over their environment.
These features include automatic blinds, televisions, air conditioning, light switches and radios and will be connected to a console enabling each resident to operate the items from within their bed or chair in their room.
Each bedroom has an adjacent living space and kitchenette, ensuring the young people and their family members and friends feel welcome and at home.
Ms Lyons said she hoped Austin Street would act as a catalyst for the establishment of similar homes in the future, with aged care and disability service providers now having a leading archetype to model from.
Maree Mitchell, whose 32-year-old son Corey has already moved into Austin Street, described the change as a “wonderful opportunity” for her son.
“Corey’s children would not go to visit him in the former facility because it was old and institutionalised, but Austin Street is a home,” Ms Mitchell said.
“When I told Corey he was going to his new home, he put his thumbs up.”
Ms Mitchell said having Corey at Austin Street gave her peace of mind.
“I live in Queensland so the bonus for me is that I can stay overnight there, which is ideal. Going by the surroundings, what Villa Maria has created, and the caring staff I’ve met, I feel he’s in a place where he’s wanted and is safe.”
Villa Maria has done an enormous amount of work to see the facility come to fruition since it was successful in tendering for government funding under the ‘my future my choice’ initiative in 2007.
To undertake construction, Villa Maria contributed $3.75 million of its own funds to the project (including the site valued at $1.85 million). A further $1.3 million was provided by the Department of Human Services and over $740,000 has been raised to date, through philanthropic trusts and community donations.
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