A Warm and Wonderful Bequest at Cypress View Lodge
Karen Hodgson, Facility Manager at Cypress View Lodge, New South Wales, Australia, initiated a True Doors ® project after reading about our work on an online magazine.
Karen loved our person centred approach, as she wanted to give elders choice while also brightening up the hallways and, True Doors fit the bill perfectly.
Cypress View Lodge is a small independent, community founded organisation, which is home to 19 people, including a few residents with dementia. Care needs range from minimal to more intensive.
All the residents of Cypress View Lodge are able to move freely, including to the local high street just over the hill. A great advantage of living in a village community of 700 people.
A bequest had been left to Cypress View Lodge by one of the residents, Edna Horrigan and it was felt Edna would have enjoyed True Doors also.
A little concerned that picking doors from the 500 plus collection would be impractical, Karen made a pre-selection of the Australian doors.
%20and%20after%20(right)%20shot%20with%20Joy%20Lovell%20after%20a%20True%20Doors%20Transformation%20at%20Cypress%20View%20Lodge%20Australia.jpeg "A before (left) and after (right) shot with Joy Lovell after a True Doors Transformation at Cypress View Lodge Australia")
%20and%20Paddy%20and%20June%20Connor%20(right)%20at%20Cypress%20View%20Lodge.jpeg "Happy residents Jess Horder (left) and Paddy and June Connor (right) at Cypress View Lodge")
%20and%20Joan%20Smith%20(right)%20next%20to%20their%20True%20Doors%20at%20Cypress%20View%20Lodge%20Australia.jpeg "Mark Byrnes (left) and Joan Smith (right) next to their True Doors at Cypress View Lodge Australia")
%20and%20Irene%20Chattaway%20(right)%20next%20to%20their%20new%20True%20Doors%20at%20Cypress%20View%20Lodge.jpeg "Emidio Fattore (left) and Irene Chattaway (right) next to their new True Doors at Cypress View Lodge")
What followed was more valuable than expected. First the process of selecting doors where people talked about which doors they wanted and why led to fun stories and conversations. People chose doors that looked like ones from the past or that they simply found beautiful.
And then also the day when Carolyne Taplin (True Doors Australia Representative) and husband, John, applied the decals turned out to be another unexpected chance for fun and chatter while the hallways were being transformed.
Transform impersonal hallways into neighbourhoods with homes.
Help people to recognise and find their own doors. Increase privacy and sense of safety. Stimulate reminiscence and social interaction. Help elders feel at home, and energise staff with a beautiful workplace.