By Mikayla van Loon
A decades-old kitchen has reached its end of life at a major dementia support service in Mooroolbark and is in need of repair.
Caladenia Dementia Care has started crowdfunding for a remodel as well as putting the call out for skilled trades or project managers to help tackle the upgrade project.
Board chair Ronda Jacobs said cost estimates have come back in the realm of $180,000 because of the requirement to bring the kitchen up to current commercial standards.
“We’ve got to have an exceptionally high standard to meet…that’s when you’ve got this overlay of this huge cost that you caught up in because you just come in under that designation of a commercial kitchen,” she said.
The Hilledge Lane property, which Caladenia acquired from Yarra Ranges Council in 1991 under a peppercorn loan, hasn’t seen the kitchen be renovated since 1998.
Chief executive officer Sarah Yeates said not only are some cupboards unusable, appliances like the dishwasher, oven and fridge need replacing.
“The floor, stainless steel benching, which we’ve had some people say we do need some people so we don’t need, our cabinetry needs replacing,” she said.
“The floor is a huge issue. Everything’s got to be ripped out for the floor to be replaced with regulation non slip flooring.”
Ms Jacobs said the board did try to reduce costs by doing piecemeal fixes but if you “start adding up all those little bits, you may as well do the whole thing”.
In being completely transparent, Ms Yeates said Caladenia does have funds in reserve but those are slated for programs and providing more support to people living with dementia.
“It’s for program expansion. It’s for looking at our waiting list. It’s looking at bringing this service to other places in the eastern suburbs,” she said.
“It should be used for the people who need the service. We’ve got waiting lists. We’d rather expand our services, do whatever we can…to address the need in the area,” Ms Jacobs said.
Currently providing support to roughly 120 people living with dementia, both later in life and early onset, Ms Yeates said the waiting list is sitting at around 15 people.
Providing healthy, hearty meals to attendees at Caladenia’s programs, Ms Yeates said, is more than just putting food on the table.
“Apart from the fact that we provide a nutritious midday meal, which often relieves a carer from having to provide a large meal at dinner time, the smell of food cooking, people helping in the kitchen, all those domestic things that remind people of their own domestic situation, childhood good memories are tied up with food.
“Sharing meals together is one of the most social things we do as humans, and that doesn’t change for people with dementia.”
Although trying to raise $100,000 to put towards the renovation, Ms Jacobs said “we really need that expertise of someone…because the board’s making decisions without the right skill set”.
“Donation isn’t the only way to do it. I think some trades who could help us out would be probably even more valuable, either with some sort of cost plus price or volunteering their time would be really helpful for the kitchen,” Ms Jacobs said.
“We desperately need someone to help us manage the project. We don’t really know anything about building and renovation.”
Ms Yeates said spreading the word is even helpful at this point.
“Just get the word out there, talk to your friends and family. If you’ve got someone in the family who might have those skills or you know someone, maybe just spread the word, if you can’t help yourself,” she said.
To enquire about how you can help, contact Caladenia on 9727 2222 or email caladenia@caladenia.com.au
The fundraiser has seen close to $13,000 donated so far. The GoFundMe can be found here, gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-our-kitchen-from-1998-to-2024
