A legacy of care lasting 20 years

It became part of Mercy Health in December 2024 and today is home to 130 residents, including a dedicated 14-bed Memory Support Unit for people living with dementia.

The 20-year anniversary celebrates not only the home's history, but also the people who have shaped it, including two of the original staff members - personal care attendant, Karyn Clarke and enrolled nurse, Trudi Butts.

Trudi and Karyn have been friends since they began their training in the first intake.

Although their roles differ now, they agree on the importance of fun, both for the people they care for, and for their own ability to cope with sadness and the difficulties they face each day.

To be good at their job, they say, takes compassion, a sense of humour and the ability to listen.

“I like mucking around with (the residents), joking and having a good laugh,” Trudi said.

“For them to come in here is very daunting; most have had to sell their home, so it’s a big change.”

Karyn agreed that if she can make the residents laugh, she’s done her job.

“I treat them how I would like to be treated; you can become quite attached, and then you have to say good-bye,” she said.

A career in aged care and dealing with end-of-life is not for everyone.

It takes a special person to love the work and neither Trudi nor Karyn chose their profession, but say it chose them.

“My father-in-law was living with us; he had dementia,” Karyn said.

“We had him at home for a while and then he came in here.

“I was a dental nurse and needed a change and I thought ‘I can do this’, so I did the course.”

Trudi also became involved through her ageing family, particularly her dad who was one of 13 siblings.

“In the end, they all passed with Alzheimer's, except Dad,” she said.

“There was a lot of care given and it was heart wrenching to see the suffering in that, not just for my aunties or uncles, but for the family as well.

“It’s often harder on the family.”

Being a small town, Trudi and Karyn can find themselves caring for people they grew up knowing, and who often have dementia.

“If someone with dementia says, ‘it’s blue’, it doesn’t matter what colour it is, it’s blue to them, so it’s blue,” Trudi said.

“You go along with it, with their present, not doing that is where a lot of anxiety and behaviours come from.”

Karyn lost her own dad three years ago and says while it was the hardest thing in her life, she now finds death at work a little easier.

She says she’s still getting through it, but losing her dad has helped her to better understand how people feel.

So, what advice would they give families faced with ageing parents needing to go into care?

“It’s a big transition from home to residential aged care, so make sure they are ready,” they agreed.