Community Involvement:
Elsie Salter House

A Day Centre for People with Dementia

Elsie Salter House is a caring, professional, homelike planned activity group, set in an attractive garden setting, providing socialisation and activities for people with dementia, and providing day respite for their carers. Elsie Salter House, established by Ashburton Baptist Church in 1991, is a HACC-funded agency now operated by Samarinda Lodge Inc and supported by the Ashburton Baptist Church.

The operations and programs of the Centre were transferred from Ashburton Baptist Community Services Inc to Samarinda Lodge Inc on 1 July 2007. Samarinda is a Public Benevolent Institution and a deductible gift recipient which provides aged-care services in the City of Boroondara and surrounding areas. Samarinda owns and operates a 40-bed residential aged-care facility in High Street, Ashburton, known as Samarinda Lodge.

Elsie Salter House Offers:

• An environment that encourages and supports the maintenance of daily living skills.
  
  
• A safe and cheerful venue with opportunities for socialisation and recreation, to exercise the mind and body.
  
  
• A chance for carers to access day centre respite.
  
  
• Morning tea and lunch provided for clients.
  
  
• Some assistance to clients with hygiene and mobility needs.
  
  
• Bus outings weekly for clients assessed as suitable.
  
  
• A Carers' Support Group.
  
  
• A Planned Activity Group program designed to meet the needs of all individuals.
  
  
• Staff trained in dementia care, management, diversional therapy, and First Aid.
  

Who Is Eligible?

Residents of Boroondara (and some parts of Monash and Whitehorse) who have been diagnosed with some form of dementia. Priority is given to those residents who are socially isolated, or whose carers urgently require respite.

What To Do Next?

Obtain a referral from your G.P. or local Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS). The following ACAS phone numbers may be useful to you:

• St Georges Health Service (9268 0566)
• City of Boroondara (9278 4444)
• Peter James Centre (9881 1875)

Inspections of the Centre are welcome by appointment.

Would you like to become a "Friend of Elsie Salter House"?

• Help as a volunteer
• Receive the regular newsletter
• Make a donation (all donations are tax deductible)
• Make a bequest

Contact Details

Call the Elsie Salter House office, or e-mail for more information. Contact details are:

The Manager
Elsie Salter House
11 Marquis St
Ashburton Vic 3147

Phone: (03) 9885 6426
Fax: (03) 9813 8265
E-mail: terryn@samarinda.org.au

Elsie Salter House History

Elsie Salter House was first opened in February 1991 at 6 Y Street, Ashburton and moved to its current purpose-specific home at 11 Marquis St, Ashburton in 1994. The property is owned by Ashburton Baptist Community Services Inc (ABCSI). On 1 July 2007 the operations and programs of the Centre were transferred from ABCSI to Samarinda Lodge Inc.

The Centre was named after Miss Elsie Salter whose generous bequest to Ashburton Baptist Church facilitated the establishment of this adult Day Centre. The building at 11 Marquis Street remains the property of Ashburton Baptist Community Services Inc. Ashburton Baptist is proud of its association with Elsie Salter House.