Since the opening of Birchleigh in 1988, we have constantly raised the bar in our efforts to provide the best possible care and facilities. The following brief history highlights some of the improvements we have made through the years.
| 1988 | Birchleigh Rest Home (20 rooms) opened by Peter White. Peter, a Registered Nurse, saw an opportunity to provide the Mosgiel area with a modern, purpose-built Rest Home facility.
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| 1989 | Further 15 rooms, Library, Hairdressing Salon, Clinic Room and Physiotherapy Room were added. |
| 1994 | Original 20 room section of Birchleigh Rest Home redeveloped, increasing the size of residents' rooms, increasing the size of the main lounge and adding a conservatory. |
| 1996 | 15 Rest Home rooms converted to create a Specialist Dementia Unit. |
| 1998 | Further eight new rooms added to Dementia Unit.
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| 1999 | Purpose-built 24-bed Geriatric Hospital Unit opened. |
| 2000 | Birchleigh Rest Home renamed Birchleigh Residential Care Centre; first apartment rooms added. |
| 2001 | Three more Rest Home apartments and another lounge area added. |
| 2005 | Several Rest Home and Dementia rooms extended, creating extra living space for residents.
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| 2008 | Based on suggestions from staff, we adopted ‘warmer’ names for our three care units. These names are based on the areas of the Taieri Plains that each unit faces.
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| 2009 | Remaining six small Rest Home rooms converted to seven larger apartment-style rooms. |
Our large rooms allow you to personalise your area with items of your own furniture and mementos. We also encourage and welcome visits from your family and friends.
In some ways, Birchleigh can be even better than home. Breakfast is prepared by our own staff each morning and can be delivered to you in bed if this is your preference. Our chef and kitchen staff (based in the on-site kitchen located within Chatsford Village) prepare two ‘home cooking’ style meals each day as well as morning and afternoon tea. Optional snacks are also available at any time, on request.
Our Activities staff offer regular events for you to enjoy and participate in, such as outings, visiting entertainers, and a wide range of in-house activities designed to stimulate both your mind and your body.
The other real benefit of Birchleigh is the friendship that you can either re-kindle or build anew. It is common for residents to find old friends already living here - and inevitably new friendships develop as you get to know the people around you.
We recognise that most of our residents would prefer to remain in their own home if this was possible. We strive to create a family atmosphere to make Birchleigh your ‘home away from home’.
