Media release for Catholic Healthcare website

7 June 2010

St Peter's Green welcomes first residents to their new home

St Peter's Green, Catholic Healthcare's unique seniors living community at Lane Cove North, welcomed its first aged care residents this week.

The seven residents' new home is part of an innovative village-style community which includes their 93-place residential aged care facility, 27 independent living units, a branch library with meeting rooms, a cafe and deli, a public park, a toddler's playground and a community garden. 

The development was built on the Felton Avenue site of the former St Peter's Catholic Church, which Catholic Healthcare has leased from the Diocese of Broken Bay.

Chris Rigby, Managing Director of Catholic Healthcare says the philosophy of St Peter's Green is on integrating seniors living with broader community life.

The residential aged care community's stylish and modern facilities cater for low and high care residents and for people with dementia. Every resident has a private room with ensuite and each floor of the four-level building has a sitting and dining area with servery. On the ground floor of the building is the Willoughby Council Branch Library with two meeting rooms for adult education classes. There is also a chapel and activities room and the cafe and deli is close to the main entrance.

"It's a big change moving into a residential aged care community, so the idea is to keep the place as normal as possible," says Annette Coulthart, St Peter's Green Residential Service Manager.

Ms Coulthart says the new community's focus will be on the individuality of each person, family involvement and encouraging as much independence as possible.

"The people living here will see and hear different age groups ­- sounds of children playing, people chatting over coffee and cake, returning books to the library and working in the community garden.  They will still be part of a really vital community - not tucked away behind some high wall disconnected from everyday life. So it's quite exciting being part of this unique and special community."

Mr Rigby paid tribute to the Diocese of Broken Bay and to Willoughby Council - important partners in supporting Catholic Healthcare's vision for the new community.

"We are very proud of St Peter's Green as it offers a variety of quality housing options, ageing in place and excellent care in an environment that will enable the older people living here to maintain their independence and continue to enjoy full  lives."

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For more information:  Karen Martin, Marketing and Retirement Communities, Catholic Healthcare on 02 9855 2560 or 0407 945 131.

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About Catholic Healthcare

Established in 1994, Catholic Healthcare provides a diverse range of services in New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Catholic Healthcare operates 38 residential aged care services and 10 retirement communities and provides services to over 5,000 people in the community. For more information about residential aged care or retirement living, please call 1800 551 834 or go to www.catholichealthcare.com.au.  For information on Catholic Community Services phone 1800 225 475 or go to: www.catholiccommunityservices.com.au