Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that mean the most: a kind word, a listening ear,
or a team that goes the extra mile. For the almost 1 in 10 older Australians living with a
mental health condition*, those gestures, and the right environment, make a difference.
When David** came to HammondCare’s Riverglen Unit at Greenwich Hospital, he was experiencing severe depression. With specialist treatment and encouragement from the team, he found support during a very difficult time.
Today, David returns to Riverglen twice a week, not as a patient but as a volunteer, spending
time with people going through similar challenges and listening to their stories.
That sense of belonging is at the heart of Riverglen. The 20-bed acute Older Person’s
Mental Health (OPMH) unit supports people over 65 living with complex mental health
conditions such as severe depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis.
The focus at HammondCare’s OPMH units at Greenwich and Braeside Hospitals is on creating a homelike environment. Patients are encouraged out of their rooms to share
meals in a communal dining area, join group activities, spend time in the courtyards or take
part in art therapy and exercise programs.
This year, the team was recognised with two awards from Northern Sydney Local Health
District for Most Improved Overall Experience across both the Your Experience of Service
Survey and the Carer Experience Survey.
‘I’m very proud of the work the team does every day to support older people with mental health issues,’ shares Khima Neure, Director of Nursing and Operations.
‘These surveys are completed by patients and their carers, and reflect the team’s commitment to supporting people to live as well as they can.’
The multidisciplinary team includes nurses, consultants, a psychologist, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, recreational officer and art therapist. Together they create a safe and supportive environment where recovery is nurtured through relationships.
For Nurse Unit Manager Biren Thapa, David’s story reflects the spirit of the unit: ‘He values Riverglen as a place where he was supported during a very difficult time. Now, by volunteering, he offers others the chance to feel that same sense of hope and connection.’
* Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024). ‘Mental health in aged care’. Australian Government.
** Name has been changed.