For residents at Torquay\u2019s Ocean Mist, life is for living, and owner Elaine O\u2019Connor said after 33 years in the business, that was the reason her facilities were so successful.<\/p>\n
The Surf Coast\u2019s newest aged care provider situated off Grossmans Road offers care for residents requiring a variety
\nof needs including, respite, palliative and dementia specific care, but most importantly provides them a home away from home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey feel like they\u2019re part of a community where they feel wanted, like it\u2019s their own home,\u201d Ms O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can get up and cook their own breakfast if they\u2019re capable, and do their own gardening.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got lots of open spaces if they\u2019ve got grandchildren they can play in the garden on playground equipment or do the gardening together, if they want to do baking they can, we have a separate little\u00a0kitchen where they can cook and make their own meals, cakes and scones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have barbecue area where they can bring their family, a chapel for a quiet place to pray, a movie cinema room where they can watch movies in private we\u2019ve got a separate activity room and a billiard room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents at Ocean Mist having a fulltime chef ensured they are served homestyle cooked meals and were able to request whatever they felt like.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so close to fresh seafood, if that\u2019s what they want they let us know. It\u2019s very a la carte in terms of being able to cater to what the residents want,\u201d Ms O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same goes with outings, we have a bus that takes them out to different activities. If they want to go to the movies
\nor shopping they can. We have one gentleman who wants to go to every library within Geelong so one of our staff drives him. For residents unable to leave the home we bring the outside world to them, whether it be hosting a family event or a wedding anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said she\u2019s always been accredited and affiliated with all the peak bodies, while providing opportunities for staff to
\nundertake extra training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a nurse and I have a passion for caring. That passion has led me into aged care. The most common fears residents
\nhave is being isolated and being left alone on their own especially if their spouse has died.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose fears are alleviated here. They come here for the lifestyle and stay for the care a few staff have come across with me and they\u2019re used to the standard I expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Connor said she likes her staff to treat residents how they\u2019d like to be treated or how they\u2019d treat their own parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing families can walk away and not have to worry about them, that they\u2019re happy and want to be here is what I\u2019m aiming for.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel proud to think I\u2019ve got a service that I can offer within the community for all types of people whether their rich or poor whatever that they can come here and feel safe and comfortable. I get a lot of pleasure out of that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For residents at Torquay\u2019s Ocean Mist, life is for living, and owner Elaine O\u2019Connor said after 33 years in the business, that was the reason her facilities were so successful. The Surf Coast\u2019s newest aged care provider situated off Grossmans Road offers care for residents requiring a variety of needs including, respite, palliative and dementia […]<\/p>\n