Waratah Lodge has been nominated for a Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Award in the excellence in aged care category.
The Lodge, which has recently become famous for its ‘Words of Wisdom’ featured on social media and in this newspaper, is a 17-bed high-level aged care facility within Orbost Regional Health.
The health service is a multipurpose service that aims to meet the health needs of the Orbost and district community.
Waratah Lodge has around 50 direct care staff including registered and enrolled nurses and patient care assistants.
On top of this, the broader team also includes environmental and hotel service staff, allied health and medical services. Overall, Orbost Regional Health employs around 185 staff across the service.
“We are absolutely thrilled to know that both our staff and residents are getting the recognition that they deserve,” Orbost Regional Health chief executive officer, Vicki Fathing, said.
“We have all been through a lot this year. During the bushfires we had to evacuate our residents for the first time ever and now they are having to juggle covering shifts for each other with home schooling.
“The restrictions on visitors just adds to the pressure on our staff who are having to look at the way in which they need to deliver different activities for the residents and be innovative with their ideas.
“Waratah Lodge have done this so well particularly with the ‘Words of Wisdom’ segment and the residents just cannot believe that they have gone viral.
“It’s special because it crosses through generations and gives the community an insight into these residents’ lives when they were much younger and how valuable they have been to society.
“To know that they have been nominated, they will be thrilled to know that both the staff and residents have been recognised.
“If we were to win then we?d plan a little party for the residents because we all need a little pampering sometime. It would be great to come away with a win, it would just do a great deal for our staff morale.”
