Free information sessions on aged care Support at Home changes

The Federal Government is introducing changes to the way home care services are charged from 1 July 2025.

A new Support at Home program will replace Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme.

Capecare is presenting two free information sessions in June to help people understand these Support at Home changes, plus they will share information on respite care and aged care services available in the community.

Capecare’s Community Manager Lesley Cunningham said the Government’s changes would help older people stay in their homes for longer and hopefully make the system more equitable.

“We’ve been planning for these changes being implemented and are keen to share information with our community members so they can find out how they can access our services,” she said.

“The new process will improve access to services and our goal at Capecare is to keep our community clients at home for as long as possible, connecting them to our services and dedicated support workers to allow them to age in place with dignity.

“Capecare provides a community social centre, respite stays, in-home respite care, allied health and in-home care so we are able to provide our clients with consistent care, tailored to their needs.

Find out about how you or a loved one can access federal funding and Capecare’s services in Busselton on Thursday 12 June at 10.30am at Capecare’s Community Centre at 20 Ray Avenue Busselton, or in Dunsborough on Wednesday 11 June at the CWA Rooms at Capecare Dunsborough at 171 Naturaliste Terrace from 9am to 11am.

Morning tea will be provided and Capecare’s Community team will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

RSVP to community@capecare.com.au or call 9750 2097.

Celebrating Our Capecare Nurses | International Nurses Day

At Capecare, we are proud to shine a light on the incredible work of our dedicated nursing team who care for clients and residents across Busselton, Dunsborough, and the wider South West community.

This International Nurses Day (12 May), we recognise and celebrate the compassion, expertise, and commitment our nurses bring to their roles every single day.

In the video linked below, we profile three of our amazing nurses, offering a glimpse into their day-to-day work and the meaningful relationships they build with those they support.

While we’re grateful for our nurses every day, 12 May — Florence Nightingale’s birthday — is a special reminder to honour the nurses in our lives.

Take a moment today to say thank you, check in, and show your appreciation.

With heartfelt thanks, From all of us at Capecare

Capecare International Nurses Day video

 

 

Capecare CEO Tim Nayton

Capecare thanks local emergency services

Capecare Dunsborough’s management fired up the BBQs at their Naturaliste Terrace facility last Thursday to thank local fire brigades and emergency services personnel.

Capecare CEO Tim Nayton acknowledged both the emergency services personnel for protecting residents and facilities during the recent Dunsborough fires, and also his staff who were working on the day.

Tim was at Capecare Dunsborough at the time of the fires and said, while obviously concerned about what was happening on the reserve across the road from the facility, it was reassuring to see the services in action.

“To watch the emergency services teams and know that there was that level of support was amazing to experience, and to witness the confident way, what became quite a threatening fire, was managed,” Tim said.

The BBQ was attended by DFES Area Officer Andy Thompson, Mayor Phill Cronin, Ben Small, Liberal representative for Forrest and a number of professional and volunteer firefighters, Capecare staff who worked on the day of the fire, and Armstrong Village residents and their families.

Andy Thompson also thanked volunteers and said the incident response ran like clockwork thanks to practical exercises carried out with Capecare.

“To our volunteers, thank you. They’ve had a busy past couple of months, including turning out to Windy Harbour and various other fires.

“The accolades also go out to Capecare staff and management. Thanks to pre-planning and on-site training and evacuation drills carried out last year, it went like clockwork.

“Staff knew we were going to ‘protect in place’, which we had planned. We had the resources here, which the volunteers are trained for, and working with Capecare staff and management was faultless. It couldn’t have gone any better.

“It goes to show the strength of all of us working together in the community and the number of volunteers that we have… Fire, Search and Rescue, SES, St John Ambulance… it was a fantastic response and hats off to everybody.”

Mayor Phill Cronin, who was a volunteer firefighter on the day, reiterated the community response.

“As I’m driving down the road, I see a big billow of smoke in the distance. The radio’s chattering. The sirens are going off. The Dunsborough guys were having a bit of trouble at their own fire station. Then I’m hearing: ‘Capecare, get down there’. We get down to Cape Nat, and there’s smoke everywhere.

“We had 125 firefighters. We had 50 units down there. We had two helicopters. The whole point was how we all came together. The DFES guys, they were protecting the structures, we were doing the bush. There were queues of St John Ambulance people down there. DFES were setting up an incident support group. It was all done professionally. We also had a lot of the City (of Busselton) involved.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t lose any properties. There were no injuries. there was no loss of life.

“Everybody here, you all played a part, you made people feel safe. The Capecare guys were out there as well, getting wet and smoky. but we all did a great job and look, I really want to say thank you. Thank you for this event to recognise this and bring us all together.

“The next thing that we are doing is getting the reserve back to how it was. We instantly go into recovery mode.  One thing we’ve learned is recovery is the quickest thing that we can get on top of rather than leaving it weeks down the line,” Mayor Cronin said.

Tim concluded by praising the amazing community spirit, also demonstrated by the generosity of wineries and breweries approached for the event. Special thanks to Shelter Brewing, Eagle Bay Brewing, Baileys Brewing, Skigh Wines, the  Highbury Project and Cape Cellars.

Crafting at Capecare Busselton

Capecare Busselton residents recently participated in some fun craft activities inspired by Waitangi Day, the national day of New Zealand. Maori poi balls, or pom poms, made of wool provided a colourful activity for Silvia, Rae, Uta and Norma with help from Lifestyle Coordinator Katrina Spillman. The balls will be joined together for decorations and for dancing props. As a member of the Lifestyle team, Katrina coordinates a range of daily activities for residents that might include gentle gym, crafts, beach and garden walks, music shows and concerts.

Thank you to our emergency services personnel

Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the many volunteer and professional firefighters, police and emergency service personnel who kept our Dunsborough residents, staff and property safe yesterday. This photo shared by the Wallcliffe Volunteer Fire Brigade shows just how close the fire came, and also how much care was taken by the responders in making sure we were ok.

We’re grateful also for our wonderful staff who looked after Capecare residents so well throughout this emergency.

And many thanks to community members and families who were in contact throughout the afternoon and evening to check on our beautiful residents. 🙏

Capecare Christmas with resident

Merry Christmas from Capecare

From everyone at Capecare, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas day and celebrated with with loved ones.
Throughout the month of December, our team worked hard to bring the Christmas cheer for our residents.
Our Community and Wellness teams were busy little elves decorating every nook and cranny to create a truly festive space and delight our clients bringing joy to everyone who visits. The Community Team also worked hard to collect Christmas gifts for local families in need which have been donated to the Salvation Army.
Our fantastic Volunteer Team have also held a Christmas raffle to raise funds.
In the final lead up to Christmas Day, both our Dunsborough and Busselton residents enjoyed an early Christmas lunch at each location. They were joined by staff, family and friends!
Capecare residents knitting and socialising

South West’s only short-stay respite care helps families in Christmas lead-up

The South West’s only short-stay respite care service has had a busy November as families prepare for the holiday season.

Capecare cottage respite is the only one of its kind in the South West, offering short-term visits for senior citizens who need daily care to give their carers a break.

Unlike normal respite care, which can last for several months, the cottages host guests for only up to two weeks, making the stay more like a hotel service.

Recently the cottages have had a major refurbishment, with upgrades in September making the facilities more welcoming. Guests are able to take part in daily activities and socialise with others while being cared for.

Capecare chief executive office Tim Nayton said the service aimed to help community members support their family while also having a break when needed.

“People come here who live in the community but require a level of care and support to continue to live comfortably, and that care and support often always comes from a family member,” he said.

“It may be a spouse, or it can also be a child, and it is a huge commitment and can be a pretty exhausting commitment over time, which they take on with the best of intentions and love.

“But this does come with a lot of work; for some people it’s 24-7 living with and caring for their partner.

“Having a respite program like this provides an opportunity for the carer to be able to rejuvenate and refresh themselves and to have a bit of downtime, which sometimes is all someone needs.”

Mr Nayton said the festive season could be challenging for families, with the normal rhythm of life interrupted.

“It can be an issue and create difficulty for some people, so having a respite facility like this allows people and carers to feel confident, comfortable and reassured that they are able to give themselves a break and the person they are caring for is being looked after,” he said.

December had been less busy for the cottages, with more family around to help day-to-day carers, but Mr Nayton said November had been a busy month as people prepare for Christmas.

“There is a huge amount of carers who have enormous levels of guilt or a sense of failure if they feel compelled or are encouraged to use respite care,” he said.

“But it just doesn’t need to be; it’s not healthy and there are some real benefits for people using respite in some form.”

View the story online here: https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/regional/south-wests-only-short-stay-respite-care-helps-families-in-christmas-lead-up-c-17147467

Capecare CEO Tim Nayton with residents

Capecare Dunsborough invites new residential care residents

Expressions of interest are now open for the 41 remaining beds at Capecare Dunsborough’s deluxe residential care facility, located just a short stroll to the beach and town centre.

Capecare Dunsborough is the town’s first and only residential aged care facility, opened in late 2021. Its residents enjoy premium accommodation, state-of-the-art facilities and high quality, personalised care.

Capecare CEO Tim Nayton said the rooms being released have not previously been used. “Capecare delayed opening the whole facility until we were confident it could be consistently, fully staffed with an exceptional care team.

“When Capecare Dunsborough opened two and a half years ago, we only released rooms in the two ground floor wings in a staged process,” he said.

“A stabilisation of staffing across both our Dunsborough and Busselton facilities has allowed us to move forward to release the remaining 40 rooms, which were designed with residents in mind.

“Much care was taken in the planning of bedrooms, bathrooms, living, dining and outdoor facilities to ensure the best quality of life for our Dunsborough residents.

“We hope to welcome new first-floor residents to this beautiful facility from November 2024 to early 2025 and look forward to operating at our full capacity.”

Capecare Dunsborough’s residential facility features plenty of natural light, fresh air and stimulating outlooks. Rooms are positioned around central courtyards, and many have bay windows.

Jon Farr, whose father was a resident of Capecare Dunsborough and Aunt Janet is a current resident, said he and his family’s experience with the facility had been nothing but positive.

“My Aunt moved into Capecare in June 2022 to be closer to Dad who lived in Busselton. After getting to know the facility my dad said he thought he might need to go into residential care, and when a room came up he also moved into Capecare in Dunsborough. About a year later another of my aunties moved in, so it was a family affair!”

“From the time we first connected with Capecare through to ongoing relationships with the whole team, the main thing is that they really make you feel welcome. And nothing ever seems to be too difficult,” he said.

“When my father passed away, we witnessed a very caring team of people who had cared for my dad, were caring for my aunties, and cared for us as a family as well.”

Capecare Dunsborough comprises a premium 82-bed residential care facility for people with high physical needs in a dementia-enabling environment, respite care, lifestyle and allied health services (occupational therapy, podiatry and physiotherapy), a cinema room, hairdresser, café and landscaped gardens with BBQ area.

The complex also features 21 independent living apartments and the new HQ for the Dunsborough Country Women’s Association (CWA).

To find out more about Capecare Dunsborough visit our Dunsborough residential page . To enquire about the rooms release and receive an information kit, contact the Capecare admissions team on 08 9750 2000 or email dunsadmissions@capecare.com.au.

 

Happy Capecare clients and Allied Health staff pose for a photo in the gym

Allied Health Open Day

Capecare provides a wealth of allied health offerings  to our community and our team of professionals hosted an Open Day on 31 July to showcase our services.

Held at our Busselton gym, the day was officially opened by our CEO Tim Nayton. Being a Physiotherapist himself, he spoke about the importance that allied health services play in the goal for many in our community to remain in their own home longer.

Our Allied Health ManagerAnthony Galati-Rando  spoke about our growing allied health team and the range of professionals we have on staff. Our physiotherapists, occupational therapists,  exercise physiologists and allied health assistants provide a variety of services from rehabilitation, equipment assessment or tailored programs to improve strength, mobility or cognition for the client, all depending on  their individual goals.

Community Manager Lesley Cunningham explained the community home care offerings and how Capecare can support clients in a range of services through CHSP or homecare package funding.

Visitors enjoyed a group class presentation and a tour of the gym with an explanation of the equipment and their purpose.

The group enjoyed morning tea together and took the opportunity to speak to staff from both the allied health and community home care teams.

Capecare staff at Winter Warmer 2024

Winter warmer

Capecare’s annual Winter Warmer event acknowledges and celebrates those in the team who have reached significant service milestones with the organisation in addition to celebrating our graduating Trainees who have completed their Cert lll in Individual Support to become part of our care team.

On Friday 26 July, a large number of our staff members and board gathered at the Geographe Bay Yacht Club for our award presentations.

Award Recipients:

25 Years – Tracey Huitson

15 Years – Patricia Costello

10 Years – Virginia Hart, Ive Gulans, Suzanna Morley, Martin Organ, Robyn Organ, Val Hornibrook, Lallaine Dodd

5 Years – Cathy Farmer, Rachel Lowe, Grant Hewitt, Rose Parke, Shannan Judkins, Lee-Anne Spencer, Philippa Ayre, Hazel Gordon

Graduating Trainees – Katrina Spillman, Kimberly Kinninmont, Asnita Lata, Michelle Brooks

The last award presented for the evening is our annual Capecare Way Champion. This award is presented to a staff member who consistently demonstrates the values of Capecare. This year we had so many worthy nominations we couldn’t choose just one and so awarded two! Kelly McIntyre our Lifestyle Coordinator in Dunsborough and Emma Watson one of our Community Support Workers were the worthy recipients.

We also got the chance to meet our new CEO, Tim Nayton, who started with Capecare this Monday. Tim told us a little bit about himself and how excited he was to join the Capecare family and how amazed he has been with the warm welcome he has received.

It was a fun filled evening and a great opportunity to come together as a team to celebrate.

CAPECARE BUSSELTON

20 Ray Ave, Busselton WA 6280
Ph: 08 9750 2000
Fax: 08 9755 4696

Community Care & Respite: 08 9750 2097

CAPECARE DUNSBOROUGH

171 Naturaliste Tce, Dunsborough WA 6281
Ph: 08 9786 5555
Fax: 08 9786 5508

Community Care & Respite: 08 9750 2097

DONATIONS

If you’d like to make a difference to people’s lives, you can by making a donation to Capecare. You can donate now with your credit card via PayPal.

ABN 77 630 179 279

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