For Clare Bothmann, a 98-year-old former dairy farmer, the thought of sacrificing the serenity of her rural lifestyle for the sake of greater clinical care was a devastating proposition.
Thankfully, it was a compromise she never had to make, as she was welcomed as the inaugural resident of Carinity’s new facility: ‘The Residences at Brownesholme’, situated in Highfields, regional Queensland.
The new $32 million facility aims to provide high quality care but also a continuation of the country lifestyle enjoyed by residents before entering the facility.
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 occasion.
Dell Priebe, Bothmann’s daughter, says the homestead design of the facility made for a comforting welcome.
“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.”
Indeed, the residence is an uncannily perfect fit for Bothmann; on top of its country charm, it is built upon land formerly used as a dairy farm.
The land was bequeathed to Queenland Baptists by its owner Molly Browne upon her death in the late ’80s.
This latest development brings Browne’s dying wish to true fruition, having stipulated in her will that the land should be developed to provide both a retirement village and nursing home.
Larissa Gear, Carinity’s aged care regional manager, believes the residence provides a gold standard model for how best to accommodate elders from rural backgrounds.
“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,” she says.
Small details were implemented to ensure the country homestead feel permeates throughout the facility, including gas fireplaces in communal areas and extensive courtyard gardens.
The new, 96-bed facility adds to the adjacent Brownseholme retirement village, an independent living community.
Gear says she Is pleased that the Brownesholme lifestyle, which she describes as a “much-loved part of the fabric of Highfields”, is now available to all elders, no matter their level of independence.
“We’re excited that older seniors, or those with higher care needs, also have their own lovely and welcoming residential aged care community to enjoy together,” she says.
The Residences at Brownesholme is the 12th residential aged care community across Queensland operated by not-for-profit, Carinity.
The Residences at Brownesholme is the first stage of a $67 million expansion of the Carinity Brownesholme seniors’ precinct which includes the existing adjacent retirement village.
Carinity has been operating since 1949, an outreach of Queensland Baptists.
