By Mikayla van Loon
Caladenia Dementia Care has been recognised as Community Group of the Year in the Yarra Ranges Council Australia Day awards for 2022.
The Mooroolbark care service is a dedicated not-for-profit organisation that employs both staff and volunteers who help support people with dementia, their carers and people who are in the early stages of a dementia diagnosis.
Mayor Jim Child said the Caladenia Dementia Care staff have excelled at ensuring their patients receive the utmost care particularly during the pandemic.
“Community members living with dementia face significant barriers to everyday activities, and require compassion, empathy and care which Mooroolbark Caladenia Dementia Care offers in spades,” he said.
Adapting to the new ways of doing things as Covid-19 closed face-to-face services, Caladenia staff moved quickly to providing care through phone and video calls to offer relief to family members and carers.
“In a time when the importance of social connection has been extremely high, but access has been increasingly difficult, the work of Caladenia staff and volunteers to engage with and support community members has been so crucial for every person receiving it,” Mayor Child said.
“The work of Caladenia has helped to reduce the devastating impact of lockdowns on community members, while keeping them safe from Covid-19 – a wonderful and commendable effort.”
CEO Sarah Yeates accepted the award on behalf of Caladenia Dementia Care at the Australia Day awards ceremony.
“I’d just like to say thank you so much on behalf of Caladenia’s 19 staff, 40 volunteers and 63 service users and their families,” she said.
“Plus the group we call the Friends of Caladenia who have helped us to remain creative, connected and continuing to support people with dementia living in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Thank you very much.”
