New Carinity aged care community welcomes first resident

Carinity has welcomed the first resident into its new $32-million aged care community in Highfields.

Clare Bothmann, a 98-year-old former dairy farmer, is the first person to move into The Residences at Brownesholme. The aged care community’s inaugural Residential Manager, Jane Mackney, welcomed Clare and her visiting family and shared a special morning tea to celebrate the historic occasion.


The Residences at Brownesholme's first resident, Clare Bothmann, is welcomed by the Carinity aged care community's inaugural Residential Manager, Jane Mackney.
The Residences at Brownesholme’s first resident, Clare Bothmann, is welcomed by the Carinity aged care community’s inaugural Residential Manager, Jane Mackney.

Dell Priebe said her mother Clare has already made friends in her beautiful new home – and enjoyed her first dinner of salmon with pavlova for dessert.

“The staff just made such a fuss of mum, they gave her flowers and a nice gift,” Dell said.

“We went through a tour of the lovely place and it’s just stunning. It’s beautifully decorated in a country style. The impression you get when you walk in is that it doesn’t feel like a nursing home. So much effort has gone into making the place feel nice.”

Designed with a homestead feel, Carinity has created a warm and welcoming community for seniors with plenty of spaces for socialisation and relaxation, from cosy lounges with gas fireplaces to courtyards with garden games.

Carinity Aged Care Regional Manager, Larissa Gear, believes residents will love the country feel of the new aged care community.

“With its gorgeous semi-rural setting we’re sure it will be embraced by more seniors like Clare who grew up on farms or lived in regional areas,” Larissa said.

The Residences at Brownesholme is the 12th residential aged care community across Queensland operated by not-for-profit, Carinity. It is part of stage one of a $67 million expansion of Carinity Brownesholme, a seniors’ precinct which includes an adjacent existing retirement village.

The aged care community and retirement village are set on former farmland bequeathed to the Queensland Baptists by the late Molly Browne.

In her will, Molly stipulated that the property be developed into a retirement village and nursing home. The first part of her vision became a reality in 1995 when the purpose-built Brownesholme lifestyle retirement village opened, ten years after her passing.

“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 said.

/Public Release. View in full here.