Anglicare's aged care division unveiled a new name and logo yesterday, along with an expansion into new categories of care as it responds to the needs of Australia's rapidly ageing population.
"Chesalon Aged Care will now be known as Chesalon Living," Anglicare's Director of Chesalon, Rob Evers has revealed.
"Until now the name "Chesalon' has been synonymous with excellent professional care for the very frail with high support needs.
"This has been our specialty and Anglicare's reputation owes much to our concentration in this area.
"It was and remains part of our mission as a Christian organisation."
However Mr Evers says that for Anglicare to remain relevant as it meets the emerging requirements and needs of older Australians, it must expand into new categories of care.
Anglicare first announced its strategy in 2006 with the redevelopment of Chesalon Care at Jannali and plans to establish an eighth residential facility at Ingleburn Gardens
in Sydney's south-west.
"By incorporating low care, extra-services high care and assisted living units into new residential developments along with space for respite, community and day centre
programs, we can afford to re-develop outdated facilities and provide new facilities in those parts of the Diocese where there is a growing need," Mr Evers said.
"It's also part of our commitment to the philosophy of "continuum of care' which addresses the way individual needs change as people age at home and in full-time care.
"We believe the name Chesalon Living better represents the future direction in which we are heading."
Remaining mission-focussed
Anglicare's CEO, Peter Kell, says Anglicare would retain its mission focus through Chesalon Living.
"It is this focus which has led us to innovate in the area of aged care " first establishing services in response to a need and subsequently demonstrating our case to
governments," Mr Kell says.
Examples are the appointment of Sister Mildred Symons as the first Parish Nurse providing home visits to the elderly in 1943 by the Anglican Home Mission Society;
and opening the first dementia-specific day-care centre at Chesalon Beecroft in the early eighties.
"Today, governments have made these part of their broad strategy to provide aged care and Anglicare, through Chesalon Living will continue to look for new ways to
meet other emerging needs," Mr Kell says.
"Our business plan has specific goals for caring for people with disabilities who are ageing and for caring for the adult disabled children of ageing parents.
"These goals stem from our vision to strengthen communities, rather than aiding the trend toward isolation of older people from the support networks of family, community
and church," he said.
"They also reflect our belief that the gospel is well-served by nurturing relationships through which faith and hope can be shared."
Chesalon is a biblical word meaning hope, security and comfort.
