Milestones for Queensland aged care

The event will celebrate Tabeel Lutheran Aged Home’s 60 years of supporting the community and farewell its long serving general manager, Roland Weier, who is preparing for retirement.

Mr Weier, who turned 70 in January, said he came across the vacant management role at Tabeel by chance in 1991.

He was reportedly one of the ‘first’ aged care managers in Australia to implement the ‘Eden Alternative’.

This is a model of care which originated in America and recognises the importance of responding to each resident as an individual with unique interests, and providing a home like environment featuring spontaneity and ongoing contact with plants, children and animals.

“Eden Alternative promotes the idea that residents should never be bored or lonely and nothing is static,’’ Mr Weier said.

“Residents’ families are always made to feel welcome, we have lots of animals living here [the current tally is three dogs, two cats, a turtle and scores of fish] and we always ensure there is something going on,” he added.

As well as looking back on 60 wonderful years, Tabeel also looks forward to the future of continuing community involvement, with the Services Development Program assessing options for rebuilding on a new site.

The service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 21 Patrick St, Laidley, on Sunday, 29 June 2014 at 10.30am.