A LaTrobe University academic with an extensive research background in dementia patients, their sexuality and relationships, will speak in Toowoomba during the  month of June.

Emeritus Professor Rhonda Nay will provide the keynote address at the Lourdes Home of the Aged 50th Anniversary Dinner at Picnic Point on Saturday, June 29. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased from Lourdes Home of the Aged office on 4636 3155 or via email: spember@lourdes.com.au before Monday, June 17.

Professor Nay is Director of TIME for Dementia the Study Centre for Victoria and Tasmania and sits on the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Board. Her research interest is in person-centred, evidence-based care environments for older people, specifically those with dementia.

Her specific research areas include staff-family relationships, sexual expression and sexuality, person-centred care and pain management.

Professor Nay has been a member of numerous government and professional committees including the Commonwealth Aged Care Workforce Committee and the AHCA Reference Group on Continuum of Care, the National Advisory Committee on Ageing.

The Lourdes Home for the Aged anniversary dinner will be held on June 29th at Picnic Point from 6.30pm, with 50th anniversary celebrations continuing at Lourdes Home on Sunday, June 30 with a Jubilee Mass at 9.30am followed by High Tea.

All are welcome to attend.

Some background information on Lourdes Home for the Aged:

• Lourdes Home for the Aged was officially opened on June 30 1963 and the Canossian Sisters were charged with the care and daily running of the facility until early 1992.

• It was originally established as a facility for the aged and for retired priests; the vision of Bishop William Brennan.

• In 1993, Bishop William Morris appointed an Advisory Board to make recommendations on the future direction of the facility, some of whom are still involved today.

• Lourdes is a state-of-the-art facility and has plans to continue to ensure that it meets and exceeds the demands of the future. It will continue to maintain the philosophy of the Canossian Sisters to deliver genuine care in a place of love and peace – “A stronghold of hope”.

• Lourdes Home is managed by St Vincent’s Care Services (SVCS).

Submitted by:
Madeleine Tiller
Communications and Marketing Manager (Acting)
St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba