Aged Care, Rehabilitation & Interim Care

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33 North - Acute Medical Unit for the Aged (AMUA): Monash Medical Centre, Clayton

33 North (AMUA) is a speciality unit with expertise in the care and management of the older person who has multiple medical problems, chronic disabilities and polypharmacy or a combination of these problems including geriatric orthopaedics. The unit targets individuals who present with a wide range of problems and who would benefit best from our multidisciplinary approach.  The following clinical presentations are some examples of those people whose needs are most effectively managed by the AMUA: Chronis disability from previous strokes, falls, Parkinson’s disease, chronic arthritis, impaired mobility, multiple medical health issues, cognitive dysfunction, continence issues and psychosocial issues.

AMUA has been functioning since 20th October 1997 as a specialised unit in response to the growing need for the better coordination and continuity of care for older people during their acute phase of illness. The key to the ongoing success to this special unit is the enthusiasm and common focus on best outcomes for older adults by the dedicated team of AMUA.

West 2:   Dandenong Hospital

West 2 is an Aged Care Rehabilitation Unit, which belongs to The Aged Care Rehabilitation Service Program (RASP) within Southern Health.  It provides rehabilitation to patients over 65 years old. The units purpose is to serve the community by providing specialist rehabilitation care, which maximizes the capability of individuals to live independently within their personal and social contexts. We work as a multidisciplinary team, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologist, dietician, neuropsychologist and a social worker.  

West 2 Unit nursing team operates in an enthusiastic friendly environment at Dandenong site within Southern Health. The nursing team responsibilities are to provide direct patient care by ongoing nursing assessment by ensuring that nursing interventions and associated patient responses are recorded in the patient notes.  Also, the team has to communicate patient issues at team meetings, collaborate with Rehabilitation Specialist, Allied Health Professionals, and patients to develop a problem solving approach to rehabilitation care, which provides optimum outcomes. The team also has a holistic approach for patient education and discharge planning by continually evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care.

Patients/Families and their carers are empowered to participate in the individual rehabilitation care planning and discharge planning. 

North 1:   Kingston Centre

North 1 is a Residential Unit (Nursing Home) providing high level care and is located within the Kingston Site and has access to a variety of on site specialties.  A redevelopment plan for the Kingston Site is being undertaken.

North 2:  Kingston Centre

North 2 is a Residential High Care Unit.  Our focus is to provide Individualised person centred care.  Residents and their families are encouraged to participate in the decision making process of the care that the resident receives. North 2 is compliant with all Aged Care Standards and is currently fully accredited. Opportunities for continuous improvement are captured through our quality system. Staff, residents, family & carers are encouraged to participate. All staff deliver care according to the Southern Health values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

South 2:   Kingston Centre

South 2 is a 28 bed ward, which provides specialised services for residents requiring High Level care.  It is one of the four residential wards at Kingston Centre.  South 2 delivers a high standard of care, which promotes the individual’s dignity and privacy, encourages individuality, self expression and the opportunity for recreation and maintaining independence.  Residents / family meetings are held monthly and the minutes are sent out to all concerned.  There is a Complaints / Comments system in place and residents/staff are encouraged to use it to enhance better communication.

Residents/Families and their carers are empowered to participate in the individual care delivered to them.  They are involved with nurse care planning on admission and on periodic reviews.  We conduct a yearly Resident Satisfaction Survey and any issues of concerns are discussed and addressed promptly. South 2 respects each resident’s cultural and religious customs.  In all we work together as a team to achieve the best outcomes for our residents.
                                     
Eastwood Hostel:  Kingston Centre

Eastwood Hostel is a 100 bed low care hostel spread over two buildings with single rooms and shared en suites. We are located in picturesque parkland, abundant with birdlife with a secure fence encompassing both buildings, within the grounds of Kingston Centre. We provide Residential Care in a home like environment and able to provide care to residents who require more complex clinical needs, as we have Registered Nurses cover on site 24 hours a day. We have an extensive 7 days a week Lifestyle program, and will also accept Respite Care Residents when vacancies exist. Eastwood Hostel forms part of the Residential Care Program for Southern Health. We are compliant with all of the Aged Care Standards and have a well developed quality system in place.

North 3 - Interim Care Unit : Kingston Centre
                         
The Interim Care Unit specialises in caring for patients who are awaiting placement in either high or low level care facilities.  While patients await placement we try to maintain and enhance their independence as much as possible through Physiotherapy programs and our Diversional Therapist.  Although we are not a rehabilitation unit, the nursing staff take an active approach in encouraging patients to participate in their own care whenever possible. 

Placement is a very stressful event for patients, friends and families.  Caring for patients and families emotional and social needs during this time is critical.  We have a very experienced Social Worker and Continuing Care Coordinator who help give this support and help families and friends through the steps in finding a suitable aged care facility for their loved one.  When possible we also involve the patient in this process.

South 4 – Rehabilitation:   Kingston Centre

This twenty-eight-bed rehabilitation unit accommodates neurological, orthopaedic, chronic pain and paediatric patients.  There are four beds within the total of twenty-eight allocated to the Step-down program.  The Step-down program is for patients who have had a CVA or brain haemorrhage and it is not certain if the patient will be rehabilitated.  The difference between rehabilitation nursing in contrast to other fields of nursing is - The rehabilitation nurse aims to return to patient to living as opposed to keeping the patient alive.  Rehabilitation is an active process that enables the incapacitated person to return to a level of functioning that allows him to live and work as normally as possible following a disabling injury or illness.  To be able to participate in rehabilitation provided by the team of doctors, nurses and therapists, patients must be able to attend an intensive therapy program of approximately six hours per day for five days per week. Acute rehabilitation promotes the return of the person to his community as quickly as possible. 

South 5:   Kingston Centre

South Five is a rehabilitation unit with twenty beds for general aged rehabilitation including orthopaedics, pain management, dialysis, wound management, post cardiac surgery. Our other ten beds are devoted to Stroke Rehabilitation. Our patients are provided with on-the-ward Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work, Dietetics, Psychology, Pastoral care and Music Therapy. Our stroke patients also have access to a ward based stroke support group ran by South Five Staff.

South Five is supported by two consultants who are an important part of our interdisciplinary team. Our aim on South Five is to assist patients as fluidly as possible to return to their pre-morbid condition so they can go home. Patient’s and families are included in each step of the rehab process to ensure patient centred care. When patients are unable to return home our team do everything we can to make the placement journey as easy as possible, this includes family meetings, patient and family counselling and ensuring supports are in place.

South 6:   Kingston Centre

South 6 is a Subacute Geratic Evaluation & Management Ward, with a rehabilitation component. We provide care for medical and post surgical patients.  We have a consultant ward round once a week and a Registrar & Resident available each day between 9am 5pm.  A team meeting occurs weekly in which all members of allied health, medical and nursing staff attend to discuss patient care, management and Discharge Planning.  Within the ward we have a large open day room which is use by the allied health staff for patient activities, or for Staff information sessions. Our Ward also has a large well equipped physiotherapy area, an O/T Kitchen enabling assessments to take place on the ward.  Patient’s families and carers are encouraged to participate in the decisions made related to their care & discharge planning.

East 1:   Kingston Centre

East 1 is a Rehabilitation Aged Care Unit.  The Unit has orthopaedic, stroke and sub-acute general medical beds. Patients are also admitted for Evaluation and Management.  Eight beds are for the treatment of patients with Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s disease).

East 1 has two Team Meetings per week to discuss patient outcomes, one Rehabilitation \ and one Movement and these meetings are attended by Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Staff. During these meetings each patient has a Case Manager nominated and an estimated date of discharge set so the patient is able to have an idea of the length of in-patient stay.

Allambee Residential Unit:   Kingston Centre

Allambee is a 35 bed special purpose, secure nursing home which offers specialised care to older people who cannot be managed in a general purpose nursing home because of current behaviour.

Allambee opened in November 1997 as part of the Department of Human Services initiative to provide integrated health services for older people.

All residents have single rooms and the unit is arranged in three wings. A large garden is freely accessible to all residents and provides a secure area for walking. Allambee aims to provide as homelike a setting as possible

Allambee is part of the Continuing Care Program based at Kingston Centre and also forms part of the Aged Persons Mental Health Service. It provides a service to people who live in the Local Government Areas of: Kingston, Bayside and sections of Glen Eira and Monash or for people who have close family living in these areas.

Biala:   Kingston Centre

Biala Assessment unit is one of two acute wards attached to Age Mental Health Services which is over seen by the Rehabilitation and Aged Services Program. We provide Assessment and treatment for the mental ill patients who are 65 years and older.  All patients admitted to the unit are usually suffering from functional and organic disorders, many having both physical and mental disabilities. We also administer ECT on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Biala ECT suite.  

Patients/familles and their cares are empowered to participate in the individual care delivered to them. Participation with care takes place on ward round with Medical and Nursing staff and members of the Allied team where required.

Biala is headed by two consultants and a nurse unit manager. They are supported by 2 registers nursing unit managers, Div 1 and Div 2 nursing allied health personal. We have dedicated and motivated Allied Health staff who are always available to patients relatives/carers and other disciplines (staff) to provide their expertise. 

Ward D - Rehabilitation & Palliative Care:   Casey Hospital

Ward D is a 32 bed unit with 1 medical and 2 sub-acute units.  There are 16 Rehabilitation and 11 Geriatric Evaluation and Management beds.  The highly skilled multidisciplinary team provides a holistic, collaborative approach to patient care.  There are also 5 Palliative Care beds.  We provide medical intervention, comfort, support and respite to patients and their families as required under the direction of our Palliative Care Consultant.  We continue to develop our culture which promotes a multidisciplinary approach with disciplines working closely together creating a caring environment for staff and patients.  Our work environment is conducive to teamwork and enables us to utilise areas for large team meetings offering an opportunity for effective discussion and discharge planning.  The ward layout offers patients and their families areas to spend private time together or communal areas for social interaction.