When Colin Heggen needed to stay in hospital due to declining health, his daughters realised their dad needed more support than they could give him at home so they helped him choose an aged care community. “I’ve been living at Hedley Sutton for two-and-a-half years. The staff are very good. They’re amazingly tolerant and caring.”

Another resident, Sylvia Priede, says she had similar reasons for moving to Hedley Sutton and it’s a relief having everything taken care of. “After I fell and broke my hip, the hospital said it was unsafe for me to live at home on my own,” says Sylvia. “The staff are terrific – they manage all of my medications and any other medical issues.”

After experiencing the outstanding care at Hedley Sutton during a short-term respite stay, Irene Baird decided to move in permanently. A former nurse, Irene says she is especially appreciative of the high-quality medical care she receives. “Baptcare arranges everything for me. Doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists all come here and they are exceptionally pleasant. The staff also organise eye tests and dental care.”

A place for new friendships

For Irene, the social atmosphere at Hedley Sutton was one of its drawcards. “I’ve made some great friends here. I always talk to new residents and show them around to make them feel welcome,” says Irene. “The staff are very friendly and new residents are assigned a nurse who is a constant, familiar person for them to help them settle in.” Hedley Sutton runs a community visitor scheme and Sylvia says she has developed a very special friendship through the program. “Heather visits me every week – she’s like a daughter to me. We go out to lunch, head to the shops or walk her dog.”

With a diverse lifestyle program on offer, Colin says there’s no shortage of activities to keep him busy. “I really enjoy happy hour on Friday – there’s singing and dancing, we have a glass of wine or beer and a nice afternoon tea, and we do a quiz. Afterwards they screen a movie,” says Colin. “To keep fit, I go to the exercise sessions or walk around the gardens and sit out by the fish pond.”

A grand setting for all occasions

Of all the lovely places to spend time at Hedley Sutton, the library is Sylvia’s favourite. “I’ll pick out a book and sit by the fire and read or do a Sudoku.” And as a lover of gardening, Sylvia says she enjoys the leafy setting of Hedley Sutton. “I spend time walking around the beautiful grounds, and my room opens out to a terrace where I have my pot plants.”

When it comes to hosting visitors, both Colin and Irene agree the on-site café is a perfect spot. “The café is great and not too busy. When my daughters visit, we often head there for a coffee or snack,” says Colin. “It’s very pleasant.”

If you are your loved one are thinking about residential aged care, we invite you to come and see the best of care in Camberwell at Baptcare's Hedley Sutton. CONTACT US TO BOOK A TOUR

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