My mother has been living in this aged nursing home (Garrison Uniting Hostel in Mosman) for just over a year. The staff are absolutely wonderful - they see it all, and yet they remain pleasant and helpful always. Theresa, on the front desk, is constantly smiling and is willing to assist family as they adjust to their loved one settling into a place that, let's face it, none of us want to be. It's frightening for an elder to leave their own home and become part of an integrated community of frail people. Simply, they have to make the best of it. They don't have a choice as to who their fellow residents will be, so the staffing in a hostel is very important. I have found the Garrison Uniting Hostel really does try to make each resident fit in and feel comfortable. Is my mother excited to be there? No, but she's content knowing that she's in very good hands at this stage in her life.
(Just as a suggestion, I would change the seating around for meals sometimes, as it would encourage different people to get to know one another. Otherwise they don't branch out to meet others. The facility my father stayed at in Lane Cove used to change the seating around every 6 weeks and this ensured that everyone mixed and he was able to find people he liked). read more
