Report from the Retirement Living Manager 2018 / 2019
The report below was originally published in our Annual Report 2018 / 2019.
It has been a very busy year with many achievements accomplished. Planning for the development on the green fields site of William Charlton Village continues to be a very exciting and sometimes frustrating process.
This time last year we felt quietly confident that the first shovel would have turned soil by April 2019. The unforseen delays in achieving Development Consent tested the amazing group of Consultants who are experts in their field of work which make up the Allambie Heights Village Ltd. project team. We are very grateful to be working with such a knowledgeable team.
The new Retirement Village will offer 24 luxury apartments with large balconies capturing the panoramic district and city views. Designed with modern technology, the apartments will provide for the changing needs of residents wishing to have the choice to age in their home.
We are also aiming to provide a Wellness Centre and Putting Green on the site which will all be set in amazing landscaped gardens with interesting ponds, viewing decks and walking paths.
The extension of the Residential Aged Care Facility Development Application was supported by Northern Beaches Council and consent achieved from North Sydney Planning Panel in July 2017. This development has been placed on hold for the present until completion of the new Retirement Village.
All three segments of the Company, Allambie Heights Village, Retirement Village; William Charlton Village, Retirement Village and the Allambie Heights Village Residential Aged Care Facility continue to be in demand.
Allambie Heights Village, Retirement Village
The 2018-2019 financial year was another successful year in our Allambie Heights Village, Retirement Village consisting of 55 studio, one bedroom, one bedroom/studio and two bedroom apartments with great choice of size and price. As at the 30 June 2019 the Village had full occupancy. This offers great stability for our resident community.
When a property becomes available, it is renovated to meet our high standards. The properties cost an average of $40,000 each for a full renovation including a new kitchen and bathroom.
Our beautifully designed Village Dining Room invites residents, their families and friends to enjoy a home cooked 3 course lunch, 7 days a week at very affordable prices. The introduction of the monthly ‘All you can eat Carvery’ in May this year has been a delicious success. We continue to offer the very popular mid week special ‘Roast of the Day’ and monthly themed lunches.
Our fundraiser for the year was in aid of the farmers of NSW. We raised $1,552 from our residents, staff and visitors and this was matched dollar for dollar by the Company allowing for $3,104 to be donated to the ‘Buy a Bale’ fundraiser. We also held a very successful ‘Melbourne Cup High Tea’ in the Community Hall with so many winners on the day.
I thank our Residents’ Social Committee for their promotion and arranging of a diverse social program which includes: Happy Hours; BBQs; Coffee Club; Movie Nights; Relaxation and Exercise Program and a Walking Group. A number of residents assist with gardening tasks around the Village and we have a large number of registered volunteers who assist in our Residential Aged Care Facility.
Residents have enjoyed many social bus outings and weekly shopping trips during the year and we are appreciative of our volunteer drivers.
Our website has clear information about our services, fees and events which is easily accessible. We have received so much positive feedback from prospective residents who have visited it. We update the website regularly with our magazine, The Village News and we have uploaded in the past year a number of informative videos that keeps residents, their relatives and the general public abreast of what we do.
We have a close and respectful working rapport with the Residents Committee and with all our residents and I thank them for assisting with the harmony and good feeling that exists in our Village. Our Services Fees are still considered to offer great value and are very competitive.
Our residents are aged between 62 and 95 years, a wonderful mix of residents who complement each other and bring great value to our Village.
Our team of staff demonstrate dedicated commitment to our residents with respect, friendliness and attention to detail about which our residents comment regularly. Our maintenance and housekeeping teams are very proactive in all that they do and our front of office, accounts and management team work closely together along with our loyal and skilled contractors to achieve and deliver an excellent service to our residents.
William Charlton Village, Retirement Village
William Charlton Village is comprised of 55 studio and one-bedroom apartments offered on a rental basis to residents over 55 years.
What a busy year of renovations and upgrades to the Village. The exterior of the village has had a major facelift and we are very proud of the outcome. The buildings have been painted in light modern colours, new guttering installed, old wiring removed, new light fittings, glass balustrades for the whole village and the boundary wall and fencing painted. The Rotunda Community Hall has been completely refurbished and looks splendid providing our residents with a great meeting place to socialise, relax, read a book or listen to music.
We continue to renovate our apartments as they become available to our very high standards and we are proud of the affordability of rents that we offer within such a beautiful location on the Northern Beaches. As expected, our occupancy is at high levels.
A big thank you to our wonderful Maintenance Team and external Contractors who make it all happen. Keep an eye out over the next financial year when we commence the upgrade of gardens designed by our landscape architects, all very exciting!
It is wonderful watching the Village develop with new faces making new friends and joining a supportive and caring community. My thanks to Helen our former Retirement Village Coordinator and welcome to Wendy who joined the Company in May 2019.
Allambie Heights Village, Residential Aged Care Facility
During the 2018-2019 financial year, we welcomed 9 new permanent residents to our Residential Aged Care Facility. Respite Care has also been provided throughout the year with over 34 admissions.
We are proud that unlike many of our competitors, we have always provided residents with single spacious ensuite rooms, some of the largest across Australia. We continued throughout the year to upgrade and refurbish rooms.
Allambie Heights Village Ltd. publishes information on accommodation prices and costs for our Residential Aged Care Facility. We make ourselves available to sit down with prospective residents and their families and explain the complex financial obligations, fees and charges involved and we help them understand and guide them through the process.
I am proud to work with an outstanding team of staff led by Jim Murray, Facility Manager who provide excellent quality care in happy, homely environments.
Our appreciation to the Maintenance team of Dennis, Tony and Rob who along with external contractors worked tirelessly to maintain and improve all properties and common areas. Thank you to our Housekeeping Team, Marlene, Zarina, Tran and Ngawang who kept the facilities looking so clean and welcoming and who washed thousands of items of clothing and Manchester for our Residents.
My thanks to Karen and Wendy our friendly and competent Receptionists/Accounts and Administration team who during the year interacted with residents, their families, visitors and contractors and ensured that the accounts and the diverse administration duties were delivered smoothly.
To our Residents, their Families and Friends I thank you for your support throughout the year. I look forward to another successful year in 2019-2020 with many new projects on the horizon as the Company grows.
Patricia Cearnes
Retirement Living Manager