Situated within Cobram’s main shopping precinct, the community has already embraced the ability to drop by for information or discuss future options with home care co-ordinator Megan Gemmill and her staff.
Opening the offices in August, Cobram Regional Care’s Home Care packages have virtually doubled in number, ensuring locals feel comfortable with the introduction of the separate facility.
It has, in effect, taken Cobram Regional Care to a new level in aged care, ensuring it becomes a virtual ‘one-stop shop’.
Tracey thanked everyone for their efforts to develop the project, particularly the voluntary committee of management, comprised of chairperson Kate Hay, Lindon Mellier, Ellie Stephens, Joanne Tedesco and Doug Wright.
“It was their collective vision for the needs of older people in our community that enabled this program to come to fruition,” Tracey said.
Ms Hay said it had been a lot of work to make this happen, especially for Megan and her team.
“The board had a lot of faith even though it’s a big risk. Yet it is a great service to be able to support people in their own homes,” Ms Hay said.
The Cobram Barooga Rotary Club established Cobram Regional Care in the 1980s as Ottrey Lodge, while the residential facility came several years later.
More recently, there has been a shift away from the previous traditional nursing home/residential care model to a greater focus on ‘living better and for longer at home’.
Since the 2018-19 budget, the Federal Government has invested $15 billion in new funding to deliver hundreds of thousands of new home care packages and nursing services to older Australians.
Expanding services into the home care domain was a natural progression at Cobram Regional Care, with the local community now able to access all aged care services, from retirement living to Commonwealth home support, home care packages, and ultimately residential and palliative care.
Tracey wished to especially thank co-ordinator Megan, who, with her small team, has worked tirelessly to get the offices up and running, and is delighted to see so many people coming through the doors and using its services.
With a bright personality and sound knowledge of the home care program, Megan and her team are ready to advise and reassure aged residents and families of the options and services available to them in a welcoming place where they can speak with a trained person face to face.
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