Lions Club donation to Capecare will prevent hospital visits and potentially save lives

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The donation of a bladder scanner by Dunsborough Lions Club to Capecare has the potential to reduce hospital visits, improve health outcomes and ultimately save lives for our aged care residents.

Capecare Board Member and Dunsborough GP Dr Mostyn Hamdorf said the new scanner would allow Capecare’s nursing team to test and assess residents quickly and support an earlier diagnosis and treatment of potentially serious conditions.

“The portable bladder scanner donated to Capecare by Dunsborough Lions is a quick, safe, and non-intrusive way of differentiating between urinary obstruction and dehydration,” Dr Hamdorf said.

“For older people, particularly those who may struggle to communicate their symptoms, this technology helps take the guesswork out of diagnosis. The scan only takes a few seconds, and the results can be sent immediately to the resident’s GP so treatment can be arranged quickly.”

The bladder scanner cost approximately $6000 and will be used across Capecare’s Dunsborough and Busselton residential facilities, as well as by nurses supporting home care clients.

Dunsborough Lions Club Secretary Kaye McCormick said the Club was proud to support an organisation that played such an important role in the local community.

“Capecare is part of the fabric of the Dunsborough community, so we didn’t hesitate when we were asked if we could help,” Ms McCormick said.

“We know many people who are residents at Capecare – in fact two of our own members now live at Capecare Dunsborough.

“If residents become unwell because of a urinary issue, they often need to travel by ambulance to Busselton Hospital, which is stressful for everyone involved and places pressure on local services. With this scanner, assessments can happen quickly on site.”

Ms McCormick said the Club had long supported the facility.

“We worked hard for many years to get an aged care facility in Dunsborough, so it’s wonderful to be able to continue supporting projects like this.”

The Dunsborough Lions Club previously donated a Tovertafel interactive memory game table to Capecare shortly after the Dunsborough facility opened in 2021, along with wheelchair-friendly raised garden beds for residents. The Club also contributed financially to the facility during its early planning stages.

Learn more about Dunsborough Lions Club at dunsboroughlions.com.au

eldac

Capecare strengthens palliative care through national initiative

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Capecare is proud to be participating in the End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) initiative – a nationally recognised program designed to support aged care providers to improve palliative care, strengthen advanced care planning, and build stronger connections across health and community services.

The ELDAC project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and delivered through a partnership of three universities and national organisations representing aged care, palliative care and primary care.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is a compassionate and supportive approach that aims to enhance quality of life for individuals living with a life-limiting illness, and for the families and carers supporting them.

It focuses on preventing and relieving suffering through early identification of needs, careful assessment, and effective management of pain and other concerns. This includes physical, psychological, emotional, cultural and spiritual support, ensuring each person’s care is respectful, individualised, and aligned with their values.

What is ELDAC?

The ELDAC model provides a practical framework for improving how aged care services respond to changing health needs and end-of-life care. It supports providers to strengthen:

  • Advance Care Planning
  • Assessing palliative care needs
  • Responding to deterioration
  • Working collaboratively with families, GPs and allied health professionals
  • Connecting with wider palliative care services

This approach can contribute to reduced hospital admissions, shorter hospital stays, and improved quality of life outcomes for older Australians receiving care in residential aged care and in the community.

Capecare’s ELDAC journey

Capecare commenced the ELDAC journey at our Dunsborough facility in November 2025. We will commence at our Busselton facility and in our Community care services in May 2026.

As part of ELDAC, we are focusing on raising awareness and strengthening our approach to palliative and end-of-life care through:

  • targeted meetings and planning activities
  • increased collaboration with GPs and allied health professionals
  • improved access to trusted, evidence-based resources and tools
  • building staff capability through education and training
  • supporting stronger communication and care planning with residents, clients and families

Staff across our Busselton and Dunsborough residential care facilities and community care will have access to a collection of free, evidence-based information, tools and resources developed through ELDAC and supported by trusted programs including palliAGED and Advance Care Planning Australia.

A key part of Capecare’s participation includes support from the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA).

Benefits for Capecare and our community

Capecare’s involvement in ELDAC is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits, including:

  • stronger support to provide palliative care through structured frameworks and planning
  • access to trusted evidence-based resources and online tools
  • increased education and training to build confidence and expertise
  • greater confidence for staff, volunteers, residents and families
  • a valuable learning opportunity across our entire organisation
  • cost efficiency through grant-funded training opportunities
  • strengthened networks with local palliative care services, GPs and allied health professionals

Capecare is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that supports dignity, comfort and choice. The ELDAC initiative is an important step in strengthening our palliative approach and ensuring residents and clients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

We look forward to continuing this journey and sharing further updates as the program expands across our communities.

Community presentation audience

Invitation: Community information morning

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Join Capecare at our free information morning for local seniors and their families on Friday 20 February from 10.30am to 12pm.

We’ll provide information on:

  • Planning to access home support and funding;
  • How Capecare can support you at home, our community services classes and activities
  • Respite services; and
  • Volunteering

Meet some of our key community care team members and share a free morning tea provided by our lovely hospitality team.

The event will be held in our Social Centre in Busselton.

Register at community@capecare.com.au or call 9750 2097.

Capecare celebrates its home care clients each aged 100+

Capecare celebrates its home care clients each aged 100+

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Capecare celebrated the lives of four cherished home care clients last month with a combined 100th birthday party.

Coined as the inaugural ‘100 Club’, each of the four residents are still living in their own homes in Busselton with Capecare’s help.

CEO Tim Nayton said it was a huge achievement to reach the age of 100 and still be living independently.

“Our Community team recently noted we had four clients who had reached 100 years of age, and we couldn’t let it pass without celebrating and acknowledging these extraordinary people,” he said.

“We’ve created a ‘100 Club’ and plan to hold an annual celebration, bringing together our centenarian clients, their family members and our staff.

“Capecare is a genuine community-based organisation and an important part of our mission is to support the community in which we operate,” he said.

Capecare’s 2025 ‘100 Club’ members who attending the party at Capecare’s new Community Centre were:

  • Joan Harlow – 106
  • Hubert Davies – 104
  • George Ferris – 102
  • Violet Hayter – 100

A joy to celebrate lives well lived

Capecare Community Manager Lesley Cunningham said George, Joan, Hubert and Violet were remarkable people.

“They remind us that life is about resilience, family, friendship and the simple joys of everyday living.

“It is a joy to celebrate lives well lived, their wisdom and presence. Our community staff love spending time with each of these cherished clients and learn so much from them. In turn, our staff feel privileged to assist them to live well at home for as long as possible.”

Capecare provides a range of in-home care for older people in the south west including personal care, domestic assistance, gardening, home maintenance, nursing care and medication support, shopping and community transport. It also provides allied health services, a Community Centre in Busselton for day visits, and overnight respite care when carers need time for themselves.  A new Cottage Respite centre provides private suites, each with a bedroom, ensuite and living room, delicious meals and 24-hour nursing care. For  more information visit our Community Services page.

 

Pictured: Mayor Phill Cronin, Capecare Community Manager Lesley Cunningham, Libby Mettam MP and Hubert’s daughter Jennifer Anderson with Hubert, George, Joan and Violet

Support at Home program is Coming

Support at Home program is Coming

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The Australian Government’s new Support at Home program will launch on 1 November 2025, bringing important changes to the way older Australians access and receive in home aged care services.

This new program is designed to simplify the current system, improve access to services, and provide more flexibility and choice for people who want to continue living independently at home. As a result, existing Home Care Packages and related services will transition into the new Support at Home model.

If you are currently receiving Capecare’s in home aged care services, or if you are exploring your care options for the future, it’s completely natural to have questions about what these changes mean for you, your services, and your ongoing support. You may be wondering how funding will work, whether your current care can continue, or what steps—if any—you need to take.

To help make this transition as smooth and stress-free as possible, we have created a practical and easy-to-understand guide. This guide explains what the Support at Home program is, what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how you can continue to access the care and services you need to live safely, comfortably, and confidently at home.

View and download our Support at Home guide HERE.

You can also explore our Support at Home Packages, which outline the types of care, services, and support Capecare can provide under the new program.

View our Support at Home Packages HERE.

 

Smiling older woman with her care worker in the kitchenCapecare

Free information sessions on aged care Support at Home changes

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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.

Lady in a wheelchair being hugged by a friendly nurseCapecare

Celebrating Our Capecare Nurses | International Nurses Day

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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

 

 

Fire fighters managing a fire in DunsboroughWallcliffe Volunteer Fire Brigade

Thank you to our emergency services personnel

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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
BUSSELTON

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

Community Care: 08 9750 2097

CAPECARE
DUNSBOROUGH

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

Community Care: 08 9750 2097

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