Quality of life and a sense of community are among the top reasons residents love living at Catholic Healthcare, according to a new survey.
The latest resident survey, conducted at the end of 2023, found 97% of residents were satisfied with their experience at their residential village, an increase of 5% from the previous rating of 92%.
Residents listed some of the top reasons as the quality of staff and village management, a sense of community, the comfort of their units and the fact they feel heard and respected.
Senior Manager, Retirement Living Vanessa McKenzie said it was important for residents to feel heard.
‘We really listened to the feedback we received in last year’s survey, presented results to residents and committed to an action plan to address them,’ Ms McKenzie said.
‘Throughout the year we kept residents updated on the progress of the action items, right up to completion,’ she said.
The survey’s responders emphasised the importance of community at their homes.
‘I came here not knowing a soul and now I have lots of friends,’ a resident from McQuoin Park Retirement Village on Sydney’s North Shore said.
‘There are plenty of social activities as well as exercise programs from which to choose,’ the resident said.
Ms McKenzie said the organisation’s Mind+Move health and wellbeing programs combined with bus trips, meals and other activities had been a focus for Catholic Healthcare.
‘We have also been working hard to encourage our villages to be multi-service precincts, what we call catholic Connected Communities,’ she said.
‘Residents who are active and connected are generally happier and are less likely to have a negative view on life.”
Gardens and outdoor spaces, communal spaces and the size of the village were also among the reasons residents felt at home.
Another theme that came through from survey responders was the level of security and safety at villages.
‘I have been living here for almost nine years and I have been very happy, particularly with the security which gives me great peace of mind all day and night,’ a resident at The Brighton, in Croydon, Sydney said.
Ms McKenzie said staffing had also been a factor in the increased rates of satisfaction.
‘Residents feel supported and safe,’ she said.
‘We have also increased the number of villages with a care advisor on site which has really helped residents to access the support they need to keep them living independently.’
‘We’ve also got a great team of village managers who are passionate about their roles and the residents can feel it,’ she said.
To find out more about retirement living at Catholic Healthcare, visit: https://www.catholichealthcare.com.au/retirement-living-overview/