Ryman Healthcare has been nominated for four awards at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore. Two of Ryman Healthcare's retirement villages have been singled out for their excellence in aged care.
The facility at Weary Dunlop is the New Zealand-based first village in the Australian market and is in the running for “Facility of the Year” in the category of residential aged care.
The Weary Dunlop village has been praised for their performance and feedback from families and residents. There is a clear staff-to-resident ratio, and the facility has already been awarded four stars by the Australian government department of health and aged care, which was considered by the award judges.
Nellie Melba Retirement Village, in the Melbourne neighbourhood of Wheelers Hill, is a finalist in the category of “Ageing in Place.”
The village’s continuum of care model has been recognised with the shortlisting in the competition, as well as their integrated living, independent retirement, serviced apartments, and home care centre facilities being just a few of its offered services.
Continuum of care has been commonplace in Ryman’s New Zealand villages but is still in its infancy in Australia. The service revolves around allowing residents to remain in the same village while meeting their care needs if they adjust over time.
Ryman Healthcare’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic has also been praised, which has been labelled innovative and industry-leading, resulting in two years without a single care centre resident contracting the virus.
Such implications made in their response include moving high-risk staff into villages, introducing a digital contact tracing tool, and being the first aged care provider in the state of Victoria that introduced rapid antigen testing for both visitors and staff.
Having been acknowledged for their response before, this latest announcement comes after Ryman won awards from Leading Age Services Australia and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce Industry.
Since being founded in Christchurch in 1984, Ryman Healthcare now owns and operates 45 retirement Villages in New Zealand and Australia, housing more than 13,200 residents and employing 6,7000 staff as well.
With planned projects in six Australian locations, and several in New Zealand, Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO, Cameron Holland said there is no slowing down on the horizon for the company.
“We create active, engaging retirement living communities but it’s the fact we have world-class aged care services on site that allows our residents to live the fullest, happiest life possible. Our residents know that whatever their needs are now, or in the future, they will be looked after right where they are.”
Holland noted that this recognition is a great representation of the company.
“To be selected as a finalist in so many categories across our retirement living and aged care offering is really just a testament to the kindness, care and professionalism of our amazing village teams.”
