Committee for Lorne: What’s happening at the Lorne Community Hospital in 2018?

From virtual walking tours, new programs and activities, exciting collaboration projects plus our annual fundraising events, the Hospital is continually striving to provide the best possible healthcare for our community.

Grand Tour around Europe
The word has been out and about, rumours are rife down the nursing home hallway, Chinese whispers have been rustling in the curtains, talk is free flowing but detail is scarce. So, you’re going to hear it here first, we are off to Europe! Well no, not really. However, Europe is coming to us! The staff has been busy plotting and planning a virtual ‘Grand Tour around Europe”. Over a 10-month period, residents in our aged care facility will experience a taste of each country with experiences that involve food, cultural activities, music and more. In addition, with the help of staff and community groups, the residents will ‘walk’ their way across Europe aiming to reach a goal of a total of 1 million steps per month for all participants. Lorne Community Hospital has recently implemented a Montessori philosophy of care that took over 12 months to embed. The inspiration for the ‘Grand Tour’ stems from the wonderful outcomes of this project. We are looking for groups or individuals who would like to contribute to the cultural activities or to counting their steps in order the help our residents reach their goal. For further information, please email [email protected]

Health and Wellness Coaching Program
We are excited to announce that we received funding to join with Colac Area Health and Otway Health, to develop a new service to our clients who have a chronic illness. Clients in the Lorne area who have been diagnosed with asthma, cardiovascular disease (including high blood pressure), diabetes and chronic lung disease are all eligible. The aim of our project is to coach our clients to healthier lives, through realistic goal setting with our health coaches and exercise programs.

Drug and Alcohol Service in Lorne
Better Care Victoria has provided a grant to Lorne Community Hospital, in partnership with Otway Health and Windara Drug and Alcohol recovery service. The aim of the project is to increase the capability of our health service to support consumers misusing alcohol and other drugs through education and increased telehealth capacity. We also have the wonderful news of having been a finalist in the VicHealth Awards 2017 in the category of “Preventing harm from Alcohol” announced on December 5, 2017.

Collaboration Projects
Over the past few months, LCH has employed an Exercise Physiologist who specialises in group exercise activities and a Social Worker who has been working within the Lorne Medical Centre and our local schools. This has been made possible by the collaboration of projects and joint funding with Otway Health.

Building on recent successes with shared resourcing such as CEO, social work, and projects between Otway Health and Lorne Community Hospital, has prompted the Boards of Management to explore further opportunities to strengthen our existing relationship and futureproof your services.

Belonging to isolated coastal villages on a busy tourist route with extreme seasonal population shifts, Lorne and Apollo Bay communities face similar challenges relating to accessibility and range of services available, and sustainability of highly qualified staff.

It is important for the community to be involved to help shape their health service. An opportunity to do so will be provided in the coming months.

Murray to Moyne
Our annual Murray to Moyne Lorne Spinners cycle relay is on again on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8. This year, we are raising funds for rehabilitation equipment to encourage physical activity in our community. So if you would like to be part of the team – riders, volunteers and support crew, contact Karyn Hogg on 5289 4383.