Choosing the right residential aged care home—whether for yourself or a loved one—is a big decision. It’s about more than just services and facilities; it’s about finding the best place where you’ll feel safe, respected and truly at home.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to Barry Marsh House residential aged care in Oran Park and offer some practical tips to help you navigate the process of choosing the right aged care home. And don’t just take our word for it—hear from residents of Barry Marsh House as they share their own experiences of life in the home. Their stories provide a genuine look at what day-to-day life is like and what really matters when finding a place that respects your choices, supports your needs and keeps you connected to the people and activities you love.
When Delia decided it was time to move into a residential aged care home, she knew she was looking for a home that would allow her to continue to do the things she loved, like lawn bowls, dancing, painting, and bingo.
“If you want anything, you just ask,” says Delia, who enjoys staying as active as possible. She makes the most of each day by keeping fit - doing her exercises and walking outside in the beautiful gardens with her friends.
At Anglicare’s Barry Marsh House in Oran Park, Delia has found a place where her choices are respected, where she’s supported to keep doing the things she enjoys, and where she’s part of a warm, welcoming community that feels like home.
Staff take the time to listen and understand what is important to each resident. Whether it’s how you like your tea, the way you start your morning, or the little routines that create a meaningful day for you, everything is designed to support your independence and honour your choices.
When life-long pianist Janet, moved into Barry Marsh House, she knew one thing for certain: her grand piano was coming with her. “I just said, I have a grand piano, I would like to bring it with me. And they did not object,” she says.
The staff understood how important the piano was to Janet, so they worked together to figure out how to make it happen. Now, the home is often filled with the music Janet brings to life.
Gemma, Lifestyle Carer, remembers how determined they were to make it work. “It’s quite a large thing to bring in...but it makes us so happy...knowing that she didn't have to leave that part of her behind,” she says.
That same spirit of saying yes to the things that matter to residents led to a new addition at Barry Marsh House – a pool table. The idea came up during a resident meeting. Many of the residents had fond memories of playing pool with friends. Determined to make it happen, Gemma and the team began searching everywhere, eventually finding the right one. To help cover the cost, they organised a market day at the home, inviting residents, families and friends to come along and shop in support.
“When residents want something, we will try every avenue to get there,” says Gemma. She remembers how the residents thought it was an “outrageous request”, but the staff knew they’d “make it happen”.
On a Friday afternoon you may find them in a friendly game of pool, with many others watching on, enjoying the social aspect.
From bingo and card games, exercise classes, discos and pool tournaments, life at Barry Marsh House is shaped by what the residents want to do. Each month, residents are invited to give feedback on the activities they’ve taken part in – what they enjoyed, what they’d like to keep, and what they’d prefer to change.
Julie, a Lifestyle Carer, puts it simply: ‘It’s their home. It’s their choice,” adding that activities at Barry Marsh house are first and foremost “resident-led”.
Residents having a say in the activity calendar have led to outings like bowling, beach trips, line dancing, and café visits. Delia still remembers the day she won a trophy at the bowling club and celebrated with her son. “We had a great time,” she says. “It was really nice.”
Step into Barry Marsh House, and you’ll feel it: the warmth, the laughter, the sense of togetherness. Staff and residents often describe the place as a big family, and in many cases, they truly are. Several team members have relatives living in the home.
“I would very much call it a family,” says Julie. “People come in here [and] they [may] feel a bit lost. And we...try to put a smile on their face so they enjoy their day, because we're here for them.
Gemma agrees. “Three words that come to mind when I think about Barry Marsh House would have to be family, passion and enthusiasm.” She adds, “I myself have family members in here, and a few of the other staff members do too. It says a lot [having] your own family here.”
At Barry Marsh House, you’re supported to live life your way. “I feel safe, which is important for older people,” says Janet.
“I'm healthy. I can look after myself. I don't really need any help. I'm not dependent on people. [But that is] the beauty of a home like this...if you do need help [you will] get that help. From what I‘ve seen, [the staff] understand each person.”
Care is available around the clock, but it never comes at the expense of your independence. Whether you need assistance with something small or more support, the team is there to provide help, but always with respect and compassion.
What makes Barry Marsh House special isn’t just the beautiful spaces or the events, but the people. The staff come from all walks of life and bring a shared commitment to making every day brighter for residents.
“I love everything about my job here,” says Gemma. “I love the residents. I love just spending time with them.”
Julie, who’s worked in aged care for many years, says one of the things that makes Barry Marsh House special is its diversity. “It’s all people from different cultures, different backgrounds, different ages,” she says. “It makes it so interesting.”
The mix of people not only enriches daily life for staff but also helps residents feel more at ease. “Some of the residents can talk to other staff members [who] speak their language, which goes a long way to breaking down those walls.”
For Delia, Janet, and so many others, Barry Marsh House isn’t simply residential aged care – it’s home. Through the Rhythm of Life® model, Anglicare makes sure every resident’s story is honoured, every voice is valued, and every day has meaning.
If you’re considering residential aged care in Oran Park, explore Barry Marsh House. Meet the team, chat with residents, and see for yourself what care looks like when it’s centred on the person, not just the process.
Visit My Aged Care
My Aged Care (MAC), this is the Australian Government’s aged care portal. There’s lots of helpful information on the site to help you understand the process of moving into aged care. Their search feature makes it easy to find all the residential aged care homes in your preferred area. You’ll notice there is an overall star rating - if you click on “view provider’ you can see how this provider performs in relation to compliance, quality, resident experience and staffing, as well as their pricing.
Learn more on the provider’s website
By visiting the provider’s website, you can learn a lot more about the organisation and their values. They should have information about the quality of care they provide, their range of services and pricing. Each home is required to provide a document called a Key Features Statement, this document outlines what is included in their various fees and charges - so you know what you’re paying for, and what might be extra. In addition, they should also have plenty of photos and videos so you can get a better idea of what the facilities are like, and day to day life.
Check out Google Reviews
It’s important to hear from residents and family members about their experience at the home. Google Reviews is a third party site that won’t just publish the good reviews but all of them. It can be especially helpful because they share honest, real-world feedback from residents and their families. You’ll often see a mix of positive stories and constructive experiences, which can give you a realistic look into the home.
Find out more about life at Barry Marsh House in Oran Park, where you can see why it’s so highly rated on Google reviews, with 4.9 stars.
Visit Anglicare's residential aged care homes to see how support, comfort and community come together, and how the right guidance can help make it all feel possible.
You can also follow Anglicare on Instagram and Facebook to see daily life in our homes and what care with heart truly looks like.
To learn more about the residential aged care process down our free ebook.