REDHS residents can rest easy
THE nursing home and hostel facilities at Rochester Elmore District Health Services have received 50 new beds as well as other furniture and equipment thanks to $200,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The REDHS board contributed $110,000 to the amount given by the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to lessen the amount and severity of falls across aged care and acute care settings.
Director of clinical services Meredith Hodder says her commitment to reducing these incidents came after REDHS identified a higher than average fall-rate. Aged care residents tested the new furniture and gave direct input to staff to ensure they purchased appropriate equipment. One such resident, Pete Murray, says he was “one of the lucky ones” now he can easily enter and exit his new air-adjustable bed as he pleases.
From his mobility chair in front of a can of Carlton Dry, beer mug and photo of him and his wife on the bedside table, Pete says that comfort and his ease of access has been improved.
“I can climb in and out of bed on my own just fine now, and I have a remote control,” Pete said.
Ms Hodder said the technology helps both residents and aged care workers, and that when she started, she had to use a lever to raise and lower patients’ beds. She said the new beds will improve individual environments and residents’ safety.
The initial falls investigation was led by nurses Helen Lavery and Jodi Gavalakis, who worked with REDHS staff to ensure the new furniture was installed with minimal disruption.
“The end result will be a positive impact upon the wellbeing of our residents,” Mrs Hodder said.