Caring staff bring joy to Woodberry residential aged care in Winston Hills

Residential aged care that “feels like home”

Fiona has seen firsthand how quickly families and residents feel at ease at Woodberry thanks to the staff. “Woodberry is a very special place to be and to live. I had my mum here because it is a lovely place. It's a lovely atmosphere. The staff are beautiful. It does feel like home.”

That feeling is echoed by Deb, the Lifestyle Coordinator, who’s worked at Woodberry for nearly 30 years. “I love my role. I love the residents…my team is a great team. We get along very well, and it just makes coming to work so much easier to enjoy your work.”

For Deb, “It's not work for me. It's a role that you come in [and] you just enjoy the day. It's sitting with the residents, enjoying what they have to say, enjoying their life stories.” Some days, time simply slips away. “By the time you're supposed to finish, you still [find yourself] here. Because [...] time just goes, because the residents have always got something to say.”

Families feel it too – “this is the place”

Loretta still remembers the day she walked through the front doors of Woodberry. Her husband Richard had been living with dementia, and the time had come to find the right care, a decision no partner makes lightly. But as soon as she stepped inside Woodberry, she knew. 

“The very first time I walked through those front doors, you could feel this beautiful atmosphere. It was just amazing. It was like there was a big aura going on here. And I thought, this is the right fit for Richard.”

Since then, she’s come to know Woodberry not just as a visitor, but someone who feels at home here too. “This has become my second home. I’ve been welcomed the same as Richard.”  She says that people often stop to chat. “The best part about here is everybody knows your name. No one forgets your name… I’ve never come across that before,” she says. Over time, Loretta has seen how deeply the staff care for the residents, and how that care naturally extends to the families as well.

“A couple of times I've come here, I've been very, very worn out with what I've been trying to keep up with at home at the same time as well.” Some days were harder than others.  Loretta says the staff continue to look after her in small but meaningful ways, often without being asked. It’s this extra layer of care, for her as well as Richard, that has stood out most.

“The staff are very, very good. They're very supportive here… they give me comfort because they concern themselves about my welfare. And that is really, really nice to know. I really appreciate [how] the staff can take the time to think about a person from the outside who is not a resident here.”

Meals that are made with love

Across aged care homes in Australia, food is something many residents struggle with. In the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care’s 2022–2023 Residents’ Experience Survey,  the question ‘Do you like the food here?’ remained the lowest-scoring question, with just 70 per cent positive responses.

At Woodberry, food is something the team puts a lot of care into, from seasonal menus to shared barbecues and snack fridges stocked with treats. It’s something Fiona takes great pride in.

Loretta agrees that the food and café at Woodberry really are something special. “The café is fabulous. I bring Richard up here to the café area, and we sit there, and he has his cool lemonade, and I have my coffee. Then, in good weather, we go for a walk around the balconies, and sometimes we sit outside if it’s not too hot.”

“[The staff] make you feel so comfortable”

Anne’s mother moved into Woodberry just before the COVID pandemic hit. It wasn’t an easy time, but Anne remembers being instantly reassured.

“My fears were soon put to rest. [The staff] just make you feel so comfortable right from the first day.”

When Anne talks about the team at Woodberry, there’s no hesitation; they’ve been there for her mum and for her family, every step of the way. “The staff are wonderful. Absolutely wonderful...And you can see they love doing it, and that’s just the best part.” She knows her mum is safe, and even more importantly, she’s happy.

“If she wasn’t happy, she wouldn’t be here. We’d have to find somewhere else. But she’s very happy.”

Daily life that’s social, uplifting and fun

Across the home, life is full of fun and social activities like music, painting, dancing, bowling, and celebrations. Loretta remembers a particular ballroom dancing event with fondness: “Richard and I got up and we were dancing… and these are the precious times. They do mean a lot.”

Anne’s mother has a similar spirit. Even at nearly 100, she’s not ready to slow down. She enjoys the music. Always dancing.  It’s that kind of energy that staff love seeing and being part of every day. Kate, a Lifestyle Carer, says it’s what makes coming to work each day so special.

“I just think that every day is so different, and I love just coming in and trying to make someone’s day, and it’s just lots of fun. Well, I have lots of fun!”

Kate loves the energy of group activities, but just as much, she enjoys spending time one-on-one, chatting, laughing, and hearing someone’s story. “I love the big group activities, but then [I also] love spending one-on-one time with the residents and actually delving into their past… even just painting their nails. I love doing stuff like that.”

As Loretta puts it: “Woodberry was the best choice I think I have ever made in the last five years for Richard. It’s fabulous here.”

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