Bupa Willoughby

Marilyn Murray

My father has been at Bupa Aged Care Willoughby for a year now and I wanted to take this opportunity to recognise the exceptional care and attentiveness of all the staff. Barbari the General Manager and Sherry and Trasji are so professional and responsive to my family and all our needs and especially my father. I can’t thank enough all the RNs who watch over dad so carefully and I especially want to thank all of his daily carers. A huge thankyou to all his carers, Kai, Anita, Isha - I’m sorry I can’t remember all their names. They are the kindest people I have ever met both to my dad and my mum who visits every day. Thankyou so much I know your job is not easy and you always do it with a smile. Much love Marilyn and Samira

Jahan Tyson

I’ve been involved with Bupa Willoughby for a long while now, and I’m always proud to spend time there as a spokesperson for Koori Radio and as a member of the LGBT+ community. It made me emotional, learning that BUPA value their LGBT+ residents, as well as embrace opportunities for the whole community there to learn more about reconciliation, by honouring First Nations at their Cammeraygal home. There are some loving hearts and caring, open minds at Bupa Willoughby. Barbari, Izabel and Jordan particularly. I carry your loving smiles with me and when I think of Bupa Aged Care.

Andrew L

My mum has been at BUPA for almost 4 years. At the outset, it's a daunting experience finding an aged care home let alone coming to terms with putting a loved one into a home. Coming across BUPA Willoughby was a blessing but what a difference good management can make. Babari is brilliant, I've seen a few General Managers churn through the home in my time (some I had actually never met or spoken to) and didn't realise what a difference a really good GM can make to the operation and morale throughout the home. Who knew a GM in Aged Care could have a sense of humour as a personality trait? It's a tough gig for all workers in Aged Care and we are a very 'hands on' family in on-going care with my mum so, with being there so often, I really do know and see the enormous pressures they are under. I salute them and happy to ease their load in any way I can, but I always know my mother is happy and being looked after regardless of whether I'm there or not. From the management team to the assistant carers, there is always a smile, utmost care and I'm always made to feel like I'm visiting my mother at her home, not a facility. Beautiful gardens, courtyard and plenty of spaces to utilise internally, it is not your average aged care home. Nice decor and furnishings and, most importantly, excellent clinical care and meals. It has that family feel and it is good to be able to share a general laugh and conversation at all levels with all whom have basically become an extended part of our own family. It's easy to be critical but sometimes you really need to be empathetic and put yourself in their shoes, we only have our own loved one to concentrate on but sometimes forget there are some 80+ high care residents in the home that require 24/7 attention all at the same time. I thought I had a high-pressure stressful job in the corporate world but the world of Aged Care and increasing visits to hospitals has made me see things differently, I'm never saving someone's life. If you are researching Residential Aged Care in the Lower North Shore, give the new and improved BUPA Willoughby a call.

scott w

Dad went into BUPA Willoughby initially for respite post hospital. It became obvious that full time care was needed, and after 6weeks or so in respite there, we new that he was in the best possible place. The staff from the GM Barbari through admin, clinical, lifestyle and basically the whole crew are wonderful happy caring making dad feel at home and looking after everything he or we need. The listen and take feedback really well and genuinely make dad feel special and is welcome. It’s a great spot with beautiful garden and large outdoor courtyard. Dad is very much at home after just a few months. I really recommend the spot, we feel lucky to have dad there in what really does feel a bit like a big family.

David Watt

My mother lived at Bupa Willoughby from March 2021 until her recent death. She broke her hip back in October 2021 and was unable to return to independent living. Apart from some short-term memory loss, she had few major health issues and was probably at the lower end of the needs spectrum. My review should be read in the context of my mother's particular situation. I am not in a position to comment on how her experience would have been had her needs been greater. Overall, my mother and my family were very happy with how everything went for her at Bupa Willoughby. Managing an aged care home in the current funding environment is not easy, and we felt that they did a very good job under the circumstances. The home was comfortable and well maintained, with a lovely garden and break-out areas, good-sized rooms, and well positioned for outings to local cafes or walks on the leafy local streets. My family was very involved in my mother's care, and this I feel made a significant difference to the quality of life she enjoyed. I am very grateful to the Bupa management for doing everything possible to facilitate access during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was and is a difficult balancing act - protecting residents from the virus while keeping them connected with their loved ones. I felt that Bupa got the balance right, which cannot have been easy. Bupa Willoughby shares the challenges all aged care homes are experiencing. Government funding for aged care means that the important work undertaken by aged care workers is not as well remunerated as it should be. Most have to travel considerable distances to come to work, which was difficult with public transport turmoil at times. Retention of staff is difficult. If you have a family member going into aged care, it's important to have a good understanding of the challenges. We did, and we decided that it would require a high level of day-to-day involvement to ensure that our mother enjoyed a high quality of life. By way of example, my mother was a picky eater and we used to bring her things that she really enjoyed that went well beyond what an aged care home could realistically provide. The meals at the aged care home would have sufficed, but we wanted more than that and felt that it was up to us in that case. Despite the many challenges they face, we found all the Bupa Willoughby staff to be kind and eager to assist. My mother never complained once about the care provided to her. It is a big team, but the same kindness was offered by all , including the management team, the clinical care team, the nurses and assistant nurses, the physiotherapist, the chef and hospitality team, the recreation and activity team, the laundry and cleaning teams, and the maintenance team. I enjoyed getting to know many of them and knew they were trying their hardest. They were always looking for feedback so they could improve their performance. Thanks to all and keep up the good work!