Darling House

Darling House Aged Care Association Inc.

Darling House Hostel, in Sydney's historic The Rocks and Dawes Point area, was built with financial assistance from the Commonwealth Government, the NSW State Housing Department and the Sydney City Council.

The facility is conducted by the Board of Darling House Aged Care Association (Inc), a local charitable group which worked for 20 years to achieve its dream of providing a residential aged care centre for inner city residents.

The Darling House dream was conceived in 1972. Although some work was done on the 1843 sandstone house over the years, the major restoration and construction work did not start until late 1993 and was completed in June 1994 - creating a truly lovely complex.

The residence

Darling House is a very special community project which aims to provide supported accommodation for older people. Because it is small scale (nine residents), it has an intimate and homely atmosphere which is more like a private hotel than a hostel.

Set in landscaped gardens, the two storey hostel has nine attractive ensuite units in the magnificently refurbished old sandstone building and its complementary new wing.

The main lounge and dining areas are on the ground floor of the old building and there is an upstairs lounge in the extension, with a lift for easy access.

In furnishing and appointing the hostel, the Board's aim has been to provide residents with comfort, freedom and security while relieving them of the day-to-day burdens of self-care. Each unit has an ensuite bathroom with shower, an a television jack as well as a telephone jack, giving residents the opportunity to have their own private telephone and television installed.

Services

The wide range of services and activities at Darling House include three nutritious meals each day, with special diets as required.

Residents who would like to contribute to the selection of weekly menus or help with domestic chores are welcome to do so. Those who simply want to relax and be cared for will find Darling House the perfect place.

Residents who are assessed as needing assistance will be helped with:

Showering, bathing, dressing or grooming;
Personal laundry;
Medications; and
Ongoing treatment for health problems.

All residents rooms are cleaned and each unit has 24 hour emergency call buttons located in the bedroom and bathroom. Call buttons are also installed at various points in the house and a staff members is available 24 hours a day to assist or respond in a crisis.

Respite care

Darling House also has one respite unit which is specifically for short term stays. This is available for people living in their own homes who are temporarily unable to manage, who need convalescence after hospital treatment or to allow their carers to have a break.

Lifestyle

Darling House provides a supported lifestyle for older people who need some help with day-to-day living. Residents are urged to make Darling House a real home for themselves, and their visitors are always welcome.

One of the goals of Darling House is to encourage residents to maintain as much independence and control over their lives as possible. Residents are free to come and go as they wish, to join in general activities or enjoy the privacy of their own room according to their mood or interests.

What will it cost to live at Darling House?

Accommodation bond. An accommodation bond is an amount paid for entry to a low care aged care facility. The amount is invested by the facility which is entitled to the interest earned plus a monthly retention amount for five years, with the balance of the bond to be refunded on departure.

Daily care fees. Daily care fees contribute to daily living cost such as personal care, living expenses, linen, meals, heating, cooling and diversional therapy. Daily fees include a basic daily care fee (pensioner and non-pensioner rate with maximum rate set by the government) plus an additional income tested fee which depends on your assessed income and the level of care you need.

Who is eligible?

Eligibilty is assessed on the basis of need, and takes into account your health, social needs and current housing situation. The Hostel Manager will explain the criteria for eligibility and refer you to the Aged Care Assessment Team.

Enquiries

For further information, please contact the Hostel Manager, Mrs Diana Curtis.

Address	8-12 Trinity Avenue Dawes Point NSW 2000
Tel	02 9251 5959
Beds	9
Vacancy	Please enquire
Care level	Low level care : Permanent, Respite
Website	www.darlinghouse.com.au