Triple achievement for Bupa Bellarine

It seems good things really do happen in ‘threes’ after Victorian aged care facility, Bupa Bellarine, recently received three Better Practice in Aged Care Awards.

However, according to chief executive of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, Mark Brandon, the “real prize lies in the value these program have for residents”.

Announcing Bupa Bellarine as among “the best of the best” in residential aged care, Mr Brandon said each of the awards is “very different and each very meritorious”.

“To get one award is fantastic; to get three is absolutely remarkable. In fact, Bupa Bellarine is one of the very few homes in Australia, to my recollection, to have ever won three in one round,” Mr Brandon said.

The awards, which can only be applied for by aged care homes at the time of accreditation every three years, are reportedly highly valued within the aged care industry and give recognition to programs directly benefiting the lives of residents.

Describing it as a “significant achievement in the history of the awards”, Bupa Care Services managing director, Paul Gregerson, claimed the team at Bellarine “set the standard” when it came to person-centred care.

“[They are] a group of passionate, innovative people who keep the care of the resident at the centre of everything they do,” he said, adding the triple achievement would be “no surprise” to anyone who has visited the home.

Bellarine’s award-winning submissions included:

• The Liverpool Care Pathway program, which was introduced at the facility in January 2009, and has reportedly greatly improved palliative care to the dying resident, while providing support to their families.
• The Walk Around Australia program encourages and promotes walking as an exercising activity in a social and enjoyable way.
• The Personal Best program gives all employees the opportunity to make Personal Best Commitments to improve resident care in some way and was introduced at Bupa Bellarine in June 2009.