Glendale Lodge: a place to truly call home

At 95, Pauline became the very first resident of Glendale Lodge in Elderslie, NSW, moving into BaptistCare’s newest residential aged care home on opening day.

“It’s wonderful, there’s not a thing I can criticise,” she says when we visit, on a day of off-and-on rain in the courtyard outside the glass door of her spacious new room. “Nothing is a trouble for the staff. They all talk so beautifully to me.”

Before marriage and children, Pauline worked as an assistant postmistress in Bermagui, a small community tucked away on the far south coast of NSW. Family life then became the centre of her world – and at Glendale Lodge, it still is.

Upbeat music is playing in her room today, and she says the design of Glendale Lodge makes it a welcoming aged care home not just for residents, but also for family and friends. She has children, grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren who visit regularly.

“The young ones like coming here – there’s a café which serves coffee and meals, and everyone is made to feel welcome. Of course, I also have a jar full of lollies,” she adds with a smile. “Which probably helps.”

But knowing how welcome her family feels, Pauline reflects, “I am blessed.”

It was Pauline’s daughter, Maree, who first discovered Glendale Lodge when she saw it pop up on Facebook. “I said to myself, ‘This is the place Mum needs to be.’ Then everything just fell into place to make it happen.”

What impressed Maree was the way Glendale Lodge is built around small households. “I can’t speak highly enough of Glendale Lodge,” she says, “I think the concept is amazing and the design is so innovative. The bedrooms are big and bright, the hallways are wide and it’s so well-lit. Mum has macular degeneration, so good lighting is really important.”

She’s also pleased that Pauline’s room opens onto a courtyard. “Mum used to have a garden and enjoys the fresh air.”

But what mattered most, she says, was how quickly her mother felt at home. “We arrived for the guided tour and Mum was halfway down the hallway before she even stopped to look around for the rest of us.”

Maree says the first residents have also formed a very special, supportive bond. “They look out for each other and the staff really are beautiful. I know Mum is amongst friends and is well cared for.”

All in the design

Glendale Lodge was designed not just to support older people who need constant care, but to truly feel like home.

As Maree highlighted, it follows a household model, with six homes of just 16 people, each with its own kitchen, laundry, dining area and lounge. Every resident enjoys the comfort and privacy of their own bedroom with ensuite, alongside the warmth and companionship of a close-knit household.

Residential Manager Nirusha says the goal when designing Glendale Lodge was simple: “We want to make it as non-clinical as possible.”

In other words, Glendale Lodge was created to feel like home from the very start. Nirusha remembers walking through the building when it was still just a shell, but knew its design would foster comfort, dignity and connection.

She loves how the vision has come to life. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see residents and families happy, and staff coming in with smiling faces.”

A serene space

Joanne sits nearby in the residents’ lounge. She is watching tranquil scenes play out on a screen positioned on the opposite wall. Here, soothing, restful music plays in the background, something Joanne particularly enjoys as a former music teacher. She says it was also her daughter who first found Glendale Lodge.  

“It’s beautiful here,” Joanne says. “So peaceful and serene and lovely people.”

She appreciates the balance of modern facilities and homely comfort, along with the chance to join in activities. Dominoes is one of her favourites, and she is quick to mention how much she enjoys the meals.

A Lifetime of work and family

Sitting a few chairs away is Gabriele. Originally from Italy, Gabriele is 90 years old, “Plus six months,” he adds with a laugh. He left school aged 12, became a fully-fledged mechanic at 15, and migrated to Australia when he was 17.

He recalls arriving at Circular Quay by ship, after a stop in Woolloomooloo where passengers were ‘disinfected’ by a spray into the air overhead and handed a packet of Aspro. “They thought we weren’t used to a tropical climate and might suffer from headaches,” he says.

Gabriele worked hard all his life in mechanical farming, married, and raised four children. Having only been at Glendale Lodge for a few weeks, he is settling in and thinking about whether his wife – who still lives at home with their children – might one day also live here.

Shared tables, shared stories

In the dining room, Connie is enjoying lunch with Ana. Both women share a love of cooking and a deep pride in their heritage. Connie, also Italian, has been impressed by how new and clean everything at Glendale Lodge feels, right down to the care taken with laundry. It was her daughter-in-law who first found Glendale Lodge, and Connie is glad she did.

Before retirement, Connie worked on a fruit and vegetable farm for 17 years. Food has always been her passion and she shows us photos of her homemade salami infused with wine and fennel, alongside eggplant dishes, croquettes, pizza, bread and lasagne. She happily gives Glendale Lodge her approval for its fish with white sauce and parsley.

Ana, who is Spanish, agrees that food is at the heart of life. The two women discuss Mediterranean cooking and agree that Spanish extra virgin olive oil is the best, “because it’s all about taste and you only need a little bit.” Connie says, “A good olive oil and a good balsamic vinegar.”

“I like the food here,” says Ana before sharing her tips on how to make a great Spanish omelette – simple, quality ingredients like potatoes, eggs and onions. “Nothing better,” she says.

Although she has only been at Glendale Lodge for a matter of weeks, Ana says she already feels comfortable. “We looked all over and Glendale Lodge was the best. They look after us well. It’s a really nice home and the people are really nice.”

Meals made with care

Meals at Glendale Lodge are guided by Chef Manager Lena, who brings more than 27 years of culinary experience and a warm, family-style approach.  

Menus are shaped around resident preferences and cultural tastes, with input from dieticians and nutritionists to make meals both delicious and nourishing. Lena says her goal from the beginning has been to create a welcoming dining experience for residents.

She enjoys walking the floor during mealtimes, chatting with residents and asking for feedback. She also welcomes opportunities to invite residents into the kitchen if they’d like to visit.

“Sometimes they’re curious, they want to come and see how we do things.”