A beautiful country-style homestead, courtyards with garden games and a private chef. What sounds like an idyllic country dream has become a reality for the seniors of Highfields and the surrounding regions with the opening of The Residences at Brownesholme.
Carinity Aged Care Regional Residential Manager, Larissa Gear, believes residents will love the country feel of the new aged care community, located 13km north of the Toowoomba CBD.
“With its gorgeous semi-rural setting we’re sure it will be embraced by seniors who grew up on farms or lived in regional areas,” Larissa says.
The first resident, Clare Bothmann, is no stranger to the area. The 98-year-old from Oakey is a former dairy farmer. Upon their first visit to Brownesholme, Clare’s daughter Dell Priebe commented that, “It doesn’t feel like a nursing home. So much effort has gone into making the place feel nice.”
Ninety-six residents will call the new building home, and there has been a very deliberate focus on creating a homely environment that is appropriate for delivering the best possible care. Carinity has created a warm and welcoming community for seniors with plenty of spaces for socialisation or relaxation.
In any home, it’s the small details that make a big difference. There are little touches throughout the building that demonstrate the level of care and attention that has been given in creating the community.
The courtyards are easily accessible and inviting, with wide pathways leading a trail through various garden features. There’s even a choice of garden games to encourage gentle physical activity and conversation.
But it’s within the Drover’s Rest wing that the thoughtful design really shines. “There are a number of ways that a building’s design can support people living with dementia,” Larissa says.
“At Brownesholme, we’ve taken a lot of care to create a familiar environment that provides plenty of sensory and structural cues to help overcome some of the challenges and to facilitate their independence.”
These design elements include a country-style kitchen and garden shed to create familiar spaces, clear panels in wardrobe doors to assist in independent personal care, and a secure garden with features that help focus activities. Personal spaces have also been carefully planned to assist residents to navigate the space.
Each suite door has a unique colour, timber moulding and brass door knocker to help residents identify their space – from spades, to owls, to horseshoes – every detail has been designed to make everyday life more comfortable for residents.
The Residences at Brownesholme is Carinity’s 12th residential aged care community in Queensland. It is part of a $67 million expansion of Carinity Brownesholme, a seniors’ precinct which includes an adjacent existing retirement village.
“The Brownesholme retirement village has been a much-loved part of the fabric of Highfields for many years. We are excited that older seniors, or those with higher care needs, also have their own lovely and welcoming residential aged care community to enjoy together,” Larissa says.
