Ryman Healthcare is in line for four awards at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore, with two of its Melbourne retirement villages singled out for their excellence in aged care.
The New Zealand-based company’s first Australian village, Weary Dunlop, which opened in Wheelers Hill in 2014, is in the running for ‘Facility of the Year – Residential Aged Care’.
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The selection recognises the stellar performance of Weary Dunlop’s care centre, with resident and family feedback, staff-to-resident ratios, and the village’s Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care four-star rating considered by award judges.
Weary Dunlop Retirement Village is a finalist for ‘Facility of the Year – Residential Aged Care’
Nellie Melba Retirement Village, also in Wheelers Hill, is a finalist in the ‘Ageing in Place’ category.
The shortlisting celebrates the village’s continuum of care model, which incorporates independent retirement living integrated with serviced apartments, home care services, and an aged care centre providing low care, high care, and specialist dementia care.
Continuum of care, which is commonplace in New Zealand but only in its infancy in Australia, allows residents to remain in the same village community while meeting their care needs as they change over time.
Ryman’s award-winning COVID-19 response is also a finalist in the ‘Response to COVID-19 (Infection Control)’ category.
The company took a range of innovative, industry-leading steps to protect residents and staff from COVID-19, which resulted in two years without a single care centre resident contracting the virus.
Innovations included moving high-risk staff into its villages, developing a digital contact tracing tool, and being the first aged care provider in Victoria to introduce rapid antigen testing for staff and visitors.
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Nellie Melba registered nurse Shiv Ashok moved into an apartment at the village to help protect aged care residents from COVID-19.
The announcement is the latest accolade for Ryman’s response to the pandemic, after it was recognised with awards from Leading Age Services Australia and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ryman’s ‘Walking for Wellness’ initiative, which encouraged thousands of residents in Victoria and New Zealand to walk 60km in 30 days, was also announced as a finalist in the ‘Innovation of the Year – Social Engagement Programme’ category.
Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO Cameron Holland said the award nominations reflected the outstanding level of care and support Ryman residents receive regardless of their lifestyle or health needs.
“We create active, engaging retirement living communities but it’s the fact we have world class aged care services on site that allows our residents to live the fullest, happiest life possible,” Mr Holland said.
Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO Cameron Holland.
“Our residents know that whatever their needs are now, or in the future, they will be looked after right where they are.
“To be selected as a finalist in so many categories across our retirement living and aged care offering is really just testament to the kindness, care and professionalism of our amazing village teams.”
The Asia-Pacific Eldercare Innovation Award winners will be announced at the World Ageing Festival in Singapore on May 23.
