If you need emergency services, please contact 000
Are you feeling burnt out? Consider aged care respite.
Looking for a rewarding career in aged care and ready to start now?
View our current retirement living homes for sale.
Search
Contact Us
Close
Services to keep you independent
Government-funded support
One on one care and support
Support to help you stay at home
Allied health support services
Everyone deserves a break
Government or privately funded
Connect with others
Help to access support services
Personalised care and support
14 locations across Victoria
Principles of Montessori
Tailored to individual interests
Helping everyone adjust
If you care for someone, we’re here
Maintain your quality of life
Here for people of all ages
Take a break and have some fun
All your questions answered
Independent living for over 55s
Our latest properties available
Inner Melbourne communities
Camberwell
Deepdene
Kew
Hawthorn
Toorak
Suburban communities
Clayton
Kyneton
Trentham
Eltham
Bacchus Marsh
Pakenham
Balwyn
Brunswick West
Greensborough
Torquay
Everyone deserves a home
services for 18+
Great places to call home
Reach your developmental goals
Pathways to paid employment
Small group programs
Stay independent at home
Get the best out of your NDIS plan
support for 13-18 year olds
Reach developmental goals
Fun programs for your teenagers
NDIS planning
programs for 0-12 year olds
Support for developmental delays
Fun programs for your kids
A school where your child can shine
About St Paul’s College
Prepare your child for school
View our for school policies
Commited to the safety of your child
Menu
Back
Enter your search term below
Blog
→
Residents making progress in Cluny House
Despite only moving into their new home at VMCH’s Cluny House Memory Support House two months ago, our 12 residents are already making great progress, with several positive outcomes already attributed to the new innovative care model.
Helen Haynes, VMCH Montessori Change Lead says all the residents and staff have settled in nicely in the new space, which has been refurbished to suit a Montessori-style dementia care practice.
“The team has embraced the new care method and we now find residents setting tables, cleaning up the kitchen and folding the laundry. The residents love feeling useful and it gives them a sense of purpose and pride when they help you.
“The new environment coupled with the care practice has produced noticeable changes in residents in a short amount of time, which is lovely to see.”
Helen says Cluny House is a wonderful place to be, with an atmosphere full of love and warmth.
“No one goes without hugs and smiles as they go about their day.”
“The residents are able to wake up and choose to eat breakfast, which they serve themselves, at a time which suits them. They can even come to the dining room in their dressing gown if they feel like it.
“The self- service dining has proved very successful; residents select their meal and put it on their own plate. Having the choice also means they tend to eat more, so there’s also less need for supplement drinks.”
Helen says whilst the Cluny Memory Support House has only been operational for two months, the lives of residents have already improved.
“We’ve already seen a reduction in some of the challenging behaviours, and residents are taking more of an interest in activities and tasks.
“Simone, who normally speaks Arabic, has been speaking some English to staff and residents. She has been saying ‘good morning’, ‘thank you’ and ‘goodnight’, she is also smiling a lot, and loves to clap during our singalongs.
“Tom is one of our big helpers here at Cluny. From washing the dishes to folding the clothes, Tom will help, usually while singing with a smile on his face.
“We can’t wait to see even more improvements in the residents and finding activities to help them reconnect with their lives before dementia.”
Website Design & Development by ID Digital Agency
Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide.
Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.