$1.7 million Respite Centre Appeal launchedOn 10 September 2010, Caladenia Dementia Care officially launched its appeal to raise $1.7 million to build an overnight Respite Care Centre. The state-of-the-art "bed and breakfast" centre will cater for up to eight people at a time. (See plan below.) It will be a safe and familiar place for people living with dementia to stay when their carer needs to have a short break. The Centre will complement Caladenia's existing day programs for people living with dementia. It will be built next to Meadowbank House and will accommodate up to eight guests in a home-like environment. Caladenia has been providing day programs for people living with dementia since 1983. Now, following years of planning, it is ready to meet the need for first class respite care facilities in the Yarra Ranges community. Speaking at the launch, Manager Sarah Yeates said it was imperative that the Yarra Ranges Shire had its own localised service that could serve hundreds of Yarra Ranges residents in the future. "We've got the land, the skills and the drive, and we've worked with architects for four years, so we've got the plans - we just need the cash" said Ms Yeates. "The need for respite for carers of people living with dementia is going to increase dramatically in the future", said Ms Yeates. "By 2050, the Yarra Ranges will be one of ten Victorian local government areas where the prevalence of dementia is highest." "Caladenia can provide this much needed service; we can lessen carer stress and increase the quality of life of people living with dementia. It is important for someone caring for a loved one with dementia to have a break, to give them a chance to recharge." "Respite also stops people living with dementia from being prematurely admitted to nursing care." Caladenia is seeking financial support from the local community and from benevolent trusts to enable work to begin on the new building. (For more information see Caladenia's Annual Report for 2010.)
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Overnight Respite Centre - background
In 2006 Caladenia began planning for an Overnight Respite Centre for people with dementia. No other facility of this kind exists in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. The proposal was supported by the Shire but was referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to resolve other objections. VCAT approved the proposal in June 2009 and we proceeded with detailed plans for the Centre. At the same time we commenced a campaign to raise the estimated $1.7 million needed to build the Centre. The Respite Centre will be known as Caladenia's "Bed and Breakfast" facility. It will be next door to the current Day Centre (known to members as "The Club"). With eight beds for emergency and overnight accomodation, it will offer a comfortable home-like atmosphere for our guests. Funding is not available from the State Government, which currently funds our recurrent programs, nor is it available at this stage from the Commonwealth Government. The Shire of Yarra Ranges has supported the project in many ways, but cannot contribute towards the building fund at this time. It is hoped for a significant amount of support from various philanthropic trusts, but the campaign will also depend heavily on private and corporate donations. The campaign has now commenced in earnest with the official launch taking place on 10 September 2010 (see article above). Donations can be made via this site (see next column).
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