Bethany Aged Care Centre's Dining Experience

Bethany Aged Care Centre’s (“Bethany”) Manager, Louise Gallagher, says that whilst the Centre has always been a promotor of the dining experience for residents, the focus on this became heightened during the pandemic. “When COVID-19 started, to enable resident relatives to come in when we were closed or restricting who came and went, we decided to utilise a vacant room as our cafe’ set-up,” Louise explains and of the government’s legislated visiting requirements at the time. “The cafe’ was called ‘Connie’s Cafe’ originally, because it started in Connie’s room and Connie was a resident who had been here many years, and her family were the first ones to utilise those rooms." 

Louise goes on to say that a vacant room was used to create an integrated dining experience for residents and families outside of the dining room. “It was a room near reception where we could bring them straight in,” Louise states. With the launch The Salvation Army Aged Care’s Dining Experience Project at the Centre, Louise has added to the pre-existing beautiful China set with table decorations and other dining related decor. 

The Salvation Army Aged Care’s recently launched Dining Experience Project was crafted with the vision of replicating the home comforts that residents are used to, prior to moving into an aged care setting. “We now have dedicated dining experience boxes stocked with the product we purchased, and the team brings it out when the family request it,” explains Louise. Most recently, the Dining Experience Project inspired a Christmas theme, with the dining room itself decorated with a beautiful rose gold table centre piece and three candelabras in the middle of it.  

Julie Farrawell, the Centre’s Lifestyle Coordinator, reflects that whilst the dining experience has always been promoted at the Centre, the Dining Experience Project allowed for a re-fresh of the Centre’s approach. “I think it’s always good to have a bit of a revamp, especially if you’ve been doing things for a few years,” she states. “It’s always nice to have a new idea or anything that’s put towards you, because you learn something from it." 

Beyond the formal Dining Experience Project, Louise says that the Centre has always placed a great emphasis on making the space inviting, not just for visitors, but for the residents who call it home. “I get compliments often, especially from people who do a tour,” she explains. “We’ve also made the Centre more homely by putting in three big fish tanks.” 

Julie says that there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the Centre during the first month of 2024. “I asked Jackie on Reception how many visitors we have each day,” she says. “Jackie went back through our sign in books for four weeks and the average number of visitors was 24 per day. Even though they don't always stay for a hot meal they enjoy cuppa and a chat, I thought this was quite good,” tells Julie. 

Bethany is one of The Salvation Army Aged Care’s Centres catering to 66 beds. “It’s a small facility and I’ve had compliments about the fact that I remember my residents and I know my residents,” Louise says of one of the benefits of her Centre. “Running a smaller facility, that’s my passion,” she says.