Celebrating 20 years of patient care

24 June 2011

A special unit established to care for some of the most vulnerable in our community will next week celebrate 20 years of providing quality care for patients.

Staff at the Riverview Lodge at Wingham Community Hospital will gather for a barbecue lunch on Monday, 27 June to reminisce and cut a special anniversary cake.

Nurse Unit Manager Dawn Matters said Riverview Lodge is a specially designed 16-bed unit that provides assessment and care for mainly elderly dementia sufferers who have difficult or challenging behaviours.

“Sometimes people living with dementia in nursing homes or in the community can develop behaviours that become difficult to manage and that is where our unit comes in,” Ms Matters said.

“We are a transitional behaviour, assessment and intervention unit and those residents or patients come here for several weeks or months and are assessed by our expert staff.

“We provide treatment and put strategies in place to help them return to their nursing homes.”

Riverview Lodge is part of Hunter New England Health’s network of specialist mental health services for older people. It was officially opened in June 1991 by then local state MP Wendy Machin.

Ms Matters said Monday’s celebration is a chance for staff to get together and celebrate their efforts and achievements over the past 20 years.

“It will be a chance for staff – past and present – to reminisce and celebrate the wonderful care they have provided over the years.

“We have seen lots of improvements over that time too, including an upgrade of the facilities a few years ago to improve the environment for patients, staff and visitors.

“We also have been able to enhance our services and now also have a social worker, an activities officer to help with recreational activities for clients, and a specialist nurse consultant who can work in the community to assess and visit clients.”

Ms Matters also praised the contribution of geriatrician Dr William McClean who she said was instrumental in establishing the service and who still serves as a medical consultant to the unit.

Contact: Frances Holz

Phone: 4939 2216