HAMLEY Bridge Aged Care has begun to distribute its revised draft constitution in the hope of engaging with the community, receiving feedback and agreeing on a shared vision for aged care in the region.

The draft constitution is being distributed ahead of two public meetings, on Thursday, April 29, and in late May.

Hamley Bridge Aged Care’s new chief executive Nino DiSisto said a previous meeting with the public, held last year, called for the revised constitution, as well as a strong focus on achieving financial sustainability.

Mr DiSisto was called out of retirement in the hopes his extensive experience in aged and health care, as well as working with regional and rural communities, would be of great benefit to Hamley Bridge’s Aged Care facility.

“There is clearly a situation where the staff are just so passionate about the care, and their quality of care is just sensational,” he said.

“So while there is a bit of work to do improving in some areas, they are not around care and not around quality, and so I think that was what was really impressive for me.

“My major role is to work with the board, work with the community...around financial sustainability, governance, future arrangements, complying with the Commonwealth’s expectations, royal commission report – it’s a whole range of things currently these days affecting the aged-care sector.”

Having only been in the role for two months, Mr DiSisto has already set about implementing a number of initiatives.

Applications for additional funding have been lodged with the Federal Government to help with a systems upgrade, record keeping and staff training, and to increase the site’s capacity from 48 beds to 60.

An application has been made to increase the salary-sacrifice limit for staff, while three extra registered nurses are being recruited. There are also some physical changes at the Albert Street site, including a $12,000 bathroom upgrade.

“We have started just improving the aesthetics, slowly but surely; new beds and bed side tables, some new furnishings,” Mr DiSisto said.

“Obviously it’s something we have to do very carefully because money doesn’t fall from the sky… but it’s buying things that are important for the comfort of the residents.

“(Such as) our new ‘princess chair’ – so a person who is bed bound most of the time, when they get out of bed, they can be in a princess chair and then move around the site and start to enjoy some of the facilities, as well. So it’s only been a few weeks but we have done a lot of work.”

The revised draft constitution will soon be available through the Hamley Bridge Community Association website or can be collected from the Hamley Bridge Aged Care site, 19 Albert Street, Hamley Bridge.

The associated public notification meeting will be held at the Hamley Bridge Institute on Thursday, April 29, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Registration of attendance is essential (by email to ceo@hbmh.com.au or 8528 2276).

RVSP, including any feedback, can be sent to the chief executive by 5pm on Monday, April 26.