Kalyna Care’s Mark Sheldon-Stemm outside the extension to the aged care facility. 72970 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
BY NATALIE GALLENTI
BRIMBANK residents with some spare time on their hands are being encouraged to adopt a Baba or Dido as part of a program at Kalyna Care.
The aged care facility in Delahey, which specialises in caring for elderly residents from eastern European countries in particular the Ukraine, has recently established a program which offers members of the community a chance to brighten up the lives of people who rarely receive visits from family members or don’t have any family at all.
Co-ordinator of the program Deborah D’Costa said younger members of the community and retirees were ideal candidates for the initiative.
Ms D’Costa pointed out that volunteers did not have to speak the language but simply spend time with the elderly residents and provide companionship to people who were lonely.
“We’re looking for people who really have a genuine passion and want to make a connection with the residents,” she said.
Ms D’Costa said simple things like reading stories, writing letters, hosting arts, crafts, cooking and gardening classes, becoming a walking buddy, providing hand massages or painting nails or even something as enjoyable as a challenging game of Wii, can brighten up the lives of the residents.
“The residents look forward to their special time with someone.
“A lot of the people don’t have family or are displaced people.”
However she said since its initiation there had been little support for the program which was disappointing.
General manager Mark Sheldon-Stemm said the facility, which has been opened for 20 years, was doing its utmost to provide its patients with the best service it possibly could and recently underwent a major overhaul with an additional 55 beds installed for high care and dementia patients, a new kitchen and chapel/hall.
Mr Sheldon-Stemm said Kalyna Care was a unique facility as it is one of the only culturally based residential aged care facilities in Melbourne’s West.
“A crucial element for Kalyna Care is to provide a place where people feel at home and with people from different cultures it is imperative that language, traditions, food, history and heritage are catered for”, Mr Sheldon-Stemm said.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the “Adopt a Baba or Dido” project can contact Deborah D’Costa on 9367 8055.
