Plans were lodged with the Alexandrina Council in July 2012 for a residential aged care home at Port Elliot. The project remained in the planning approval stage throughout the financial year, with plans modified to satisfy council planning staff before being granted consent.
After more than two years waiting on approvals relating to the development, construction of Resthaven’s residential aged care home at Port Elliot commenced in September 2013. Four independent retirement living units and a community services building were also included in the project.
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After many years of lobbying, the people of Port Elliot had a ‘Resthaven’. The site was opened and dedicated on 14 May 2015 and featured a 92-place residential facility as well as an adjacent office for Community Services and four retirement living units.
On 18 May 2016, the home celebrated its first anniversary with a high tea held for residents, friends and family.
In June 2016, the new build was named as the winner in the Aged and Community Services (ACS) SA and NT Awards for ‘Excellence in the Aged Living Design’ category. Executive Manager David Norton accepted the award:
‘All the hard work of the last few years has been recognised. The building is modern, spacious and elegant – a truly beautiful example of modern aged care living.’
Resthaven Port Elliot reached full occupancy by the middle of the year.
On 6 July 2017, Resthaven Port Elliot hosted a delegation from the University of Adelaide and Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. One of the visitors, Dr van Hoof, leader of Dutch innovation program ‘Nursing Home of the Future’, was particularly keen to view the home. He was impressed by the sense of space, light and access to garden areas and appreciated its innovative focus on interior design, architecture and technology – an approach that he used in his own projects.
Resthaven Port Elliot residents assisted the owner of a local café — ‘Café on Railway’ — to lend their vegetable chopping expertise, creating hearty winter soups for the homeless and disadvantaged, using vegetables donated by Oz Harvest.
On 30 August 2019, President of the Victor Harbor Country Women’s Association, Eve Balfour Ogilvy, visited Resthaven Port Elliot to plant the South Australian CWA 90th Anniversary rose in the site gardens. The rose was purchased by members of the CWA and donated to Resthaven Port Elliot where it was planted to be enjoyed by residents and staff alike.
Unfortunately, with the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic, the home’s planned celebrations to mark Resthaven’s 85th anniversary were not able to go ahead. To ensure the safety of the vulnerable resident community, social events went ‘online,’ with Resthaven purchasing extra iPads and other technology to ensure that residents could access Zoom, FaceTime, and other video platforms to stay connected with loved ones.
On 25 February 2021, the first COVID-19 vaccinations for Resthaven took place at Resthaven Port Elliot. Around 70 residents and 25 staff received the vaccination, which were prioritised for consenting residents. One of the first residents to receive the vaccination was a retired registered nurse who had previously administered many vaccinations in her working life.
As part of the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival, held in August 2024, almost 20 residents at Resthaven Port Elliot put their artistic talent on show with an exhibition in the home’s entrance area. The idea for the exhibition came about when the site manager noted the amazing artworks that residents had proudly completed and displayed in their rooms — from watercolour paintings to photographs, leadlight, needlework and more.
In August 2024, with the advent of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Resthaven Port Elliot residents travelled to Resthaven Murray Bridge for the ‘2024 Resthaven Inter-Home Games’. A fierce (but friendly) sporting championship, participants took part in games such as javelin, bocce, beanbag throw, Scrabble and golf. Gold medals were awarded to individual winners, and the final score saw Murray Bridge take out the overall prize.
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