Proving that they are a dynamic and progressive organisation, Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living and aged and community care services on the NSW North Coast, has won the prestigious 2008 Community Service of the Year Award for the Ballina region, for the second consecutive year.

Due to their innovative service offerings, dedicated staff delivering high quality care, and working closely with the Ballina community Crowley stood out as winners in thier Community Service category against quality competitors.

Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley explained that Crowley has worked hard to reverse the perceptions of aged care in the community. Continually reviewing their services, training their staff and delivering high customer satisfaction, this Award acknowledges that Crowley’s Community Care, Independent Living and Residential Care services are the best in the Ballina region.

“We are thrilled to win this Award. Our management and staff work extremely hard to deliver the best services and the best care for our clients and residents. We also work continually to ensure Crowley is giving back to our Ballina community,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley work closely with the Ballina community with their involvement in the Junior Chamber of Commerce, coordination of Seniors Week activities and provision of services such as their Hydrotheraphy Pool as well as providing their facilities and support services for low (or no) cost to local community groups.

Continually innovating, Crowley has added the new mobile meal service to their organisation’s offerings. The mobile meal service delivers fresh, high quality meals to people in their homes so they have the option to stay independent longer.

“Aged care is gaining the recognition it deserved for being progressive and Awards like this show other industries how Aged Care in continuing to improve services to meet the different care requirements of our clients and residents,” said Mr Penhey.

“Winning this Award for the second year in a row lets us know we are on the right track,” said Mr Penhey,

Complimentary and innovative services open up at St Vincents Private Hospital, with the addition of Crowley (Sherwood) Home Nursing and the pharmacy services of APHS.

Bishop of Lismore, Most Reverend Geffrey Jarrett DD, will officially bless and open the newly refurbished Lawrence Centre at St Vincents Private Hospital on Wednesday July 30 2008 commencing at 10.30am, welcoming the addition of the new onsite services of Crowley’s Home Nursing an APHS Pharmacy.

Opening of the Lawrence Centre is part of St Vincents Private Hospital’s vision to be the hospital of choice in medical care for the Far North Coast of NSW.

Start Time: 10.30am for blessing and presentations
Finish at 11.10am followed by morning tea.

Crowley wins National Award for Best in Retirement Living

Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living and aged care services on the North Coast, has received the very prestigious National Award in Retirement Living, in Melbourne last week.

Up against strong competition from organisations from all over Australia, Crowley’s new Independent Living Apartments won the category for Best Organisation in Retirement Living, at the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) 2007 National Excellence Awards.

According to Ita Buttrose, prominent business woman and one of the guest judges at the Awards for Excellence, Crowley was all about “innovation, lifestyle, environment, design, care, (with) lots of ideas at Crowley for others in the industry to emulate”.

Michael Penhey, Crowley’s CEO, has attributed the National Award to innovative strategies and his very dedicated staff.

“This Award highlights Crowley’s innovative approach to providing independent retirement living. We also have a very dedicated staff who work together as a team to provide outstanding care to our residents and clients. We are delighted that Crowley has received this prestigious Award,” said Mr Penhey.

The Aged and Community Services Australia Awards are the industry recognition of dedication and innovation in providing services to older Australians. The Awards are based on nominations from indusrty and so reflect peer recognition and reward for excellence.

The panel of eminent judges included prominent philanthropist Baillieu Myer AC; Rt Hon. Ian Sinclair, former Governer General, Sir Ninian Stephen, prominent businesswoman and journalist Ita Buttrose, Robert Fitzgerald AM, Commissioner, Productivity Commission, Moira Rayner, former Equal Opportunity Commissioner and Philip Hereen, 2007 Senior Australian of the Year.

Set on the waterfront in Ballina, Crowley’s new apartments are designed for the needs of older people who want freedom of space and independence, yet need to have the option of extra care if required. The very nature and design of the Crowley Apartments enable residents to interact as much or as little as they choose.

The National Excellence Award complements Crowley’s recent Business of the Year Award from the Ballina Chamber of Commerce.

The Crowley team with their Business of the Year Award

Proving that aged care is a dynamic and progressive industry, Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living, aged and community care services on the NSW North Coast, has won the prestigious award of 2007 Business of the Year for the Ballina region.

Due to their innovative independent living apartments, high quality residential care and community care, Crowley stood out as winners in both their Community Service category and overall Business of the Year.

Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley explained that Crowley’s services, Community Care and Residential Living, have a strong reputation in high quality care and now the new Independent Living Apartments have also been acknowledged as market leaders.

The new Crowley Apartments are first of this type on the NSW North Coast as they provide the best in modern architecture and contempory design with extra care available on site. They were designed as luxury resort stlye living including features like 24 hour call assist buttons that ensure owners have peace of mind.

“It is an innovative approach to the choice of independent retirement living in the Far North Coast of NSW and provides a premium option of care for older people. We were thrilled that Crowley was recognised with this Award,” said Mr Penhey.

“Aged Care is gaining the recognition it deserves for being progressive and Awards like this show other industries how Aged Care is continuing to improve services to meet the different care requirements of our clients and residents,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley stood out in various areas including their contribution to acting responsibly to the environment. Plans are in place for the eco-boardwalk that will wind through the pristine mangrove trees along their North Creek foreshore.

“Crowley has recently undergone an environmental retrofit accross the Care Centre and Independent Living Units and we continue to promote a “green” living and working environment,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley Auxiliary will hold their annual market day on Saturday 16 June.

The market will be held from 9am to 1pm and will be held in the Crowley Activity Centre. The market day will include stalls, crafts, cakes, jams and pickles. Donations are appreciated.

Please call Len or Joy from Crowley Auxiliary on 6686 8971 for further information.

Environmental additions to Crowley’s Independent Living Units

Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living and aged care services on the North Coast, is working on reducing their impact on green house emissions with a retrofit across their Independent Living Units.

Fieldforce Environmental, a leading service provider in environmental retrofits for residential and commercial buildings, is installing energy efficient appliances and fittings into Crowley’s new Independent Living Units.

“As part of being a responsible organisation we know the importance of reducing the energy we consume. We hope our small difference adds to others and together we make a bigger difference,” said Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley.

Fieldforce Environmental, through their Enviro Saver Program, has spent four days at Crowley replacing existing fittings with environmentally friendly water and energy appliances.

“We encourage other organisations in Ballina to also invest in their infrastructure and the environment,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley is a progressive organisation catering for people in their retirement. They believe in providing a range of services for people who have different needs. These range from Crowley Villas and Apartments, designed for Independent Living, through to Hostel, Nursing Home and Respite accommodation and a full range of Community Care services.

Fieldforce is a member of the Australian owned UXC Group and has retrofitted over 450,000 homes and installed over 2 000 000 devices. The program is an initiative of the NSW Government and is designed to reduce Green House Gases produced by coal burning electricity power.

Crowley’s Volunteers celebrate 25 years of service

Crowley, one of the North Coast’s leading providers of retirement living, aged and community care services, is celebrating 25 years of service from their Auxiliary on Friday 27 April, at the new Crowley Apartments.

Crowley Auxiliary is all voluneteers who give their time to raising money for special equipment that is specifically needed for residents. The most recent donation is a shower chair worth $10,000 to the Care Centre.

Due to their dedicated fundraising efforts, Crowley Auxiliary have raised nearly $200,000 over 25 years. Their fundraising activities, throughout the year include fashion parades, concerts, an annual market day and Christmas raffles.

Thanks to a grant of $1,000 from NSW Government, Crowley is celebrating Seniors Week with a fun morning for walkers and wheelers. Kicking off Seniors Week on March 12, the Crowley Fun Walk ‘n’ Wheel will be held at the Amphitheatre at Missingham Bridge Park, in Ballina, starting at 11 am.

If walking is not for you, join Crowley for a suasage sizzle and plenty of entertainment to cheer on the walkers and wheelers. “We want to recognise the contribution our senior residents make to Ballina,” said Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley. “We are very excited to be able to run this event for the Ballina Community,” said Mr Penhey.

The walk will follow the walking paths along the river and at any time during the walk, participants can return to the Amphitheatre to enjoy the entertainment and sausage sizzle. There will also be volunteers available to assist if any one needs a companion to walk or wheel with them.

Crowley’s grant for the Fun Walk ‘n’ Wheel is part of the funding for the NSW Seniors Week Grant program. This program, which is supported by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care, gives local authorities and community groups financial assistance for activities celebrating NSW Seniors Week.

“The Fun Walk ‘n’ Wheel is a great opportunity to exercise with your friends and to meet new people along the way,” said Prue Huggett, Manager, Independent Living Services, “We welcome everyone to help us celebrate Seniors Week,” said Mrs Huggett.

Crowley is a progressive organisation catering for people in their retirement. They provide services to 450 residents and clients through their Independent Living Village, Commuity Care and Hostel/Nursing Home.

For more information on the Fun Walk ‘n’ Wheel call Prue Huggett at Crowley on 6686 5090.

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Fr Nilon blesses Crowley Apartments

Due to dedicated fundrasing effots of their Auxiliary, Crowley, one of the North Coast’s leading providers of retirement living, aged and community care services, was presented with a new standing hoist.

Mr Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley was very pleased to accept the new equipment at their recent Annual Auxiliary Dinner. “Residents who are able to partially weight bear would normally need extensive staff assistance, however the hoist is invaluable in enhancing mobility and care. Already a significant number of residents are benefiting from the hoist”.

The standing hoist was purchased from extensive fundraising efforts by the Crowley Auxiliary, who throughout the year have conducted fashion parades, concerts, their annual market day and Chritmas raffles.

“The Auxiliary has been operating for nearly 25 years and the members of the Auxiliary are all dedicated to assisting Crowley wherever they can,” said Mrs Pat Wilson, President of the Crowley Auxiliary. “The standing hoist cost $5,000 abd we are very pleased we can provide Crowley with such an essential piece of equipment,” said Mrs Wilson.

“We believe people deserve comfort and independence. The standing hoist will enhance the lifesyle of our residents and enable them to feel even more secure here at Crowley”, said Mr Penhey.