Advantaged Care at Barden Lodge

Keri Sweet

A caring, well kept and presented facility. Excellent food. Good activities for the residents. Wonderful staff. Safe and friendly. Covid safe practices are excellent. Visiting is easy with parking available in its quiet suburban location. While no one really wants to have to live in a nursing home this one does it’s very best to make it feel like home.

Clare Williams

Barden Lodge is NOT able to meet the needs of high care residents. They may be OK for low-care residents, but be warned not to risk relying on them if your loved-one needs a high level of care. I'm not normally one to write bad reviews, but given I relied on good reviews in selecting this nursing home, I feel it important that I counter all the positive reviews with my bad experience. My mum had several months at Barden Lodge before we moved her to a different nursing home. She was a high care resident - bed-bound and mostly unable to move, and therefore reliant on staff for everything. Nursing homes who admit high care patients are paid more by Government, supposedly to enable them to provide the high care required. At Barden Lodge my mum’s care was not well managed. We had to actively chase up the nursing manager and the facility manager on all sorts of matters, including many basic elements of care. Her care was unreliable, and staff appeared to lack awareness of the ways in which their care was inadequate. Whilst the facility manager showed empathy, I'm not convinced she was aware of the details of what went on in her home. Here are a few examples of problems we experienced with my mum's care: - Staff did not properly wash her, nor adequately maintain other aspects of her personal hygiene. Family had to undertake many of these tasks on our visits. - She was not moved around in her chair or bed often enough, and as a result developed a very painful bed sore, which the family had to bring to the attention of staff. - Staff did not check in on her often enough, and she was left alone for extended periods of time in her room without any mobility or capacity to do basic things, like reach for a cup of water. When she was able to press the help button, help was slow in coming (> 10 mins). - She was not wheeled out and included in home activities until family actively chased for this to happen. - Obvious matters in need of medical care were not identified by staff, and it was up to the family to point out and seek intervention (e.g. for rashes, dry red eyes....etc.). - The GP who was assigned to my mum by the home was not good, and did not take responsibility over my mum's medical care, nor seek to make her health better in ways that he could. Rather he did the minimum. - Toilet support was inadequate. Mum was not taken to the toilet as frequently as required - and was lucky to get three trips a day (how many times a day do you go to the toilet?). At times she was told to just go in her pad. On the weekend, when I would visit, the pad would often be in need of changing, and she would sit in it for hours - she was not kept fresh. Whilst Barden Lodge looks like a nice place, we found they are not equipped for high-care patients. I was a very distressing experience, and I felt very anxious, knowing that I could not trust in her care. For the record, COVID related stresses were not an excuse for my mum's lack of care. It was not staff shortages, but the problems with care were more related to the home's care culture, a lack of personal accountability, and inadequate supervision/guidance by senior staff. I would often see carers spending much time at the carer's station, talking together. I would think this should be time spent seeing to the needs of their high-care residents.

Anamika Neupane Pokharel

Advantaged care at barden lodge is the best place to work. It’s been the best decision for me working for this facility where all the staff and residents are so much more like a family. “Having such a team makes a huge difference.” I would always work for this facility if i get chance in future. Moreover we’ve got a best manager looking after everyone and always listen and respect everyone’s choices. I miss you all and the place 💜

Steven Rayner

My father stayed at Barden Lodge for six weeks Respite Care. The compassion and empathy expressed by the management group was wonderful. The care and professionalism of the staff was exemplary. Receiving three good wholesome meals a day and his medications on time every time has made a huge improvement to my father's physical and mental well-being. Thankyou so much to all the staff at Barden Lodge.

Rachael Bonanno

In late 2020, my family and I were faced with the devastating reality that my Nanna would need to enter an aged care facility. For us, finding Barden Lodge was an absolute godsend. The facilities are clean, fresh and homely, and the staff are hard working and kind. Simone, the manager, is truly made for her role. She exudes kindness and compassion and it is with her that we place all of our trust. She absolutely loves the clients at Barden Lodge, and goes above and beyond to ensure they receive the best care possible. We miss having Nanna at home, but can rest easy knowing she is in such good hands, with such a capable manager at the helm. Thank you Simone and Barden Lodge!