Acknowledging that maintaining wellness and having access to rehabilitation resulted in improved quality of life, Resthaven embraced 'Day Therapy'. In 1980, plans for centres to be co-located with Resthaven homes were prepared, and Resthaven Marion's Day Therapy centre took 12 months to build, at a cost of about $500,000. Located at 43 Finniss Street, Marion, the official opening was held on 15 November, 1981. The Day Therapy Centre provided the following services: occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and hairdressing.
An appealing space for group meetings, the Marion Day Therapy garden room was completed and furnished. A heater was installed, necessitated by the colder months, and a ceiling fan installed for the summer. The garden area was opened up between the Residential Aged Care Home and the Day Therapy centre to provide a large, open, secure area for either group to use when the weather is fine. The Occupational Therapy area was also re-carpeted – giving the space a fresh look.
A Management Review suggested aligning Day Therapy Centres with Community Programs, rather than with residential services, as was previously the case. From 1994, both Day Therapy Centres with Community Programs were defined under the broad term of "Community Services".
With additional funding from government coming through, the Community Aged Care Packages Program (CACP) was established. The Southern Area Program, comprising 20 clients, was based at Marion. The funding was granted after the Commonwealth and State Governments recognised that Marion had a severe lack of services in support of older people and their carers.
A successful partnership between Resthaven Marion Community Services and the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) resulted in the co-location of the RDNS clinic in the Marion Therapy Services building. Clients were supported with services such as Parkinson's support, continence clinics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology, arthritis, stroke groups and balance classes, as well as the southern community programs (CACP and Respite) or residential services.
Marion Community Services launched a new community program, ‘Living Alone with Memory Loss’. The program offered support to older people with memory problems who were living at home without a primary carer.
Dr Andrew Southcott MP, Member for Boothby, visited Resthaven Marion Community Services to tour the facilities.
In conjunction with Alzheimer’s Association, a new early intervention memory loss clinic was established at Marion Community Services.
Marion Community Services launched Thinking Skills and Memory Disorders, with the aim of maximising the quality of life and function of people living with the early stage dementia or other memory disorders.
With ongoing growth and demand for services, additional office space was created within the Marion Community Services building. The Marion Community Services service area was also extended to increase support for those in the district.
Marion Community Services clients joined a behavioural study, run by the Flinders Behavioural Unit National Health & Medical Research Council, into the effectiveness of the self-management of chronic conditions.
On 8 September, 2010, Marion Community Services joined with Community Respite Services and Resthaven Marion residential home to hold the 75th Anniversary celebration, ‘On the Wings of Success ... 75 years and counting’. The event saw the release of 75 homing pigeons (representing doves) by 95-year-old Resthaven resident, Lola Cox, along with several other centenarians, ranging up to 105 years. They were surrounded by more than 75 Resthaven residents.
In 2013, Resthaven's Marion Residential Services, Marion Community Services and Community Respite Services got together to hold a fete to celebrate the Every Generation Festival.
There were stalls and displays, food, cooking demonstrations, Zumba, hand massages, face painting, performers and lots more.
In April, 2017, Marion Community Services launched its new social group. ‘Girls on the Go’. Designed for older members of the community, this ‘females only’ bus trip took participants out and about each Saturday afternoon to see the sights of Adelaide.
To maintain the modern aesthetics of the office, Marion Community Services underwent a fit out, leading to a more comfortable and streamlined working environment.
On Wednesday 30 October, more than 70 people attended the Resthaven Marion Community Services Open Day. Services held at the site were showcased, including hand wax massage, Tai Chi demonstrations, physiotherapy and tours of the gym that demonstrate reablement options.
Unfortunately, with the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Marion Community Services’ planned celebrations to mark Resthaven’s 85th anniversary were not able to go ahead.
As services continued to grow, an additional outreach office was needed for Resthaven Marion Community Services. The new office, located at 131 Goodwood Road, Goodwood, was opened in March 2021 and offered large open areas for client activities, office space for staff, and good rear parking to ensure ease of access for clients.
With a redevelopment on the cards, a ‘masterplan’ for the Marion campus was presented to the Resthaven Board. A consultant team was engaged in detailed concept and design development, with a building application lodged in September 2024.
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