Catholic Healthcare Lewisham Nursing Home

Could the facility managers please consider installing solar PV to generate clean affordable energy onsite? Plenty of roof space, and the cost of solar has fallen 80% in the past decade.

My mother has been a resident at Catholic Healthcare’s Lewisham Home for 18 months. Mum has reasonably sever dementia, is very deaf and is 92 years old, she is a resident of a secure area within the nursing home. The staff at the home settled her in quickly, giving our families advice about how they would go about it and feedback about how mum was going. There were a few expected settling in issues as mum got used to the routine and how the residence functioned, but it went smoothly as could be expected. It’s not an easy time for the family, entrusting care of a vulnerable, loved family member, but the staff looking after mum have always been accommodating and helpful. During the time Mum has been a resident we have visited regularly and always been welcomed and felt that mum’s care has been very good. The meals are generally nice and the careers ensure that all the residents eat their meals, assisting them if necessary. I’ve observed the genuine interest of the carers in the health and happiness of all the residents in the secured area. Often a resident can be exhibiting unsettling behaviour, common with dementia, and the staff always have acted with professionalism, skill and kindness to the resident, diffusing the stress or anxiety the resident has experienced as gently as possible. The observation of mum’s health is ongoing, and as the first contact if anything happens, I have regular contact from the staff to advise me of any problem Mum might be having. I’m informed of the outcome of mum’s doctor’s weekly visit. (It is a little unsettling seeing the nursing home phone number appear on my mobile but mostly it’s just to inform me that the staff have noticed a bruise, or scratch while helping mom show.) Mum has had several falls, one breaking her wrist, and I was informed immediately and mum was taken to RPA hospital, treated and returned to the home. I went to the hospital and it was a long evening for us, and a patient with dementia is a challenge in the hospital, but once back at the nursing home the staff cared for mum well and the injured healed as well as possible. The following week, accompanying mum to the fracture clinic I attended the nursing home at 7am to help the process. The staff had Mum ready for the patient transport and I watched the residents walk down to the dining room for breakfast. I had a small glimpse into the personal care, warmth and friendliness that the staff show the residents. The small personal touches and considerations, that could happen in a family home, warmed my heart. There was a comforting sense of respect and genuine care as you might see in your own home. The staff also engage with the residents with a sense of fun and happiness, the interior of the residence might look a little institutional, which mum wouldn’t notice, but she does notice the smiles as the staff go about their daily duties, and the warmth of the gentle way she is helped if she needs help. There are the odd mysterious disappearance of shoes, or an item of clothing, which sometimes return and other times not, and residential care is not what we’d hope for in our lives, but having seen the quality of care, both medical and social, and the genuine kindness of the staff I couldn’t think that mum could be in a better place that can meet her health and social needs at this stage in her life.

My father has been in Lewisham Hostel for the past 6 months. I visit him often and I find the staff friendly and caring. I get regular updates on how my father is doing. The premises and residents rooms are clean and tidy. I would recommend this place.

How could you do this to a human being? The way that poor woman was treated! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Hire more staff immediately before you torture more lives. Have more respect! Disgraceful

My mother was in Lewisham for respite care earlier this year, and she was actually looked after really well by management and all the staff. They helped her to get well and strong enough to get back on her feet and come home again. I also observed staff working with other residents, and they treated everyone with care and respect. Yes, the facilities are a bit dated and pretty basic, and like all nursing homes it requires more staff, but in the circumstances it’s a decent place. And you know what...it’s vital that family members visit their elderly relatives in nursing homes frequently. To make sure everything is OK, and even to help out where possible. You can’t “set and forget” and expect everything to be fine. Putting a hidden camera in a room is no alternative to having a real ongoing and proactive presence in the lives of our elderly relatives. Over the years the Libs have handed out aged care licences to some of their dodgiest mates, and no doubt there are some shocking nursing homes out there. Lewisham is not one of them.