Coolibah Care

08/06/2026

Our CEO Amanda Crook is a registered nurse.

Recently she put her uniform back on and spent a full day working alongside the team at Tuart House.

Not observing. Working.

"Nursing never leaves you," Amanda said. "Being back on the floor reminded me why we do what we do. What stood out most was the calm, organised and respectful way care is delivered - unhurried, thoughtful and centred on dignity. I saw firsthand the time people take to truly care - not just completing tasks, but building connection and trust with residents. That genuine care is what makes the difference."

A special thank you to Anne and the entire Tuart House team for welcoming Amanda so warmly.

We have an incredible team and wonderful residents and it shows in every interaction.

03/06/2026

You thought the hardest part was making the decision.

Then you thought it was moving day.

But now, in the days and weeks that follow, you're visiting your loved one in a place that isn't quite home yet. Some days they seem settled. Other days they're asking to come home, or not eating, or more confused than you've seen them before.

You're lying awake wondering if is this how it's supposed to be? Is something wrong?

Most families don't talk about how hard the first month can be. We wrote this blog because we think they should.

Read "What to Expect in the First 30 Days of Dementia Care". It's an honest, practical guide for families going through exactly this.

🔗 coolibah.org.au/news-blogs/what-to-expect-in-the-first-30-days-of-dementia-care/

Not sure what to expect after your loved one moves into dementia care? We explain what is normal in the first month & how to look after yourself.

01/06/2026

Happy WA Day! 🌿

Today we're celebrating the beautiful state we call home and the wonderful community right here in Mandurah that makes Coolibah what it is.

Wishing our residents, clients, families, and the whole Coolibah team a wonderful WA Day. 💙

30/05/2026

The May snapshots are here!

There were plenty of celebrations in May - Mothers Day and International Nurses Day were big one for us.

We also enjoyed a Paint & Sip session and there were a few high rollers at the pop up 'casino'.

Swipe through for a little glimpse of our May 💛

22/05/2026

This week is National Volunteer Week 2026 and the theme this year is "Your Year to Volunteer." 💛

Yesterday we took a moment to celebrate the wonderful volunteers who give their time to Coolibah Care. Certificates, gifts, and one very enthusiastic four-legged volunteer who stole the show. 🐾

Volunteering in aged care is one of the most meaningful things you can do with your time. It doesn't look the same for everyone - it might be sharing a conversation over a cup of tea, joining in an activity, or simply being a familiar, friendly face. But for the people on the receiving end, it means the world.

To our Coolibah volunteers: thank you. You are a genuine and valued part of our community.

If 2026 is your year to volunteer, we'd love to hear from you. Find out more about volunteering at Coolibah at https://coolibah.org.au/volunteers/

14/05/2026

Move over Ferguson Valley because there's a new gnome destination in town. 🌿

One of our Village residents has been quietly building his very own Gnomesville, right here at Coolibah. The collection is already growing - garden gnomes, a miniature fairy house, and a few cheeky animal friends. This little patch of front garden has become a real talking point around the Village.

He's even penned a poem for his creation: "Gnome Village - where everyone gnome someone, but who is that someone we gnome? Welcome to Gnome Village."

We have a feeling this garden might just keep growing. If you're passing through the Village, keep an eye out … you never gnome what you might find! 😄

12/05/2026

On International Nurses Day we celebrated our Nurses! 💙 ** Updated with some snapshots of our nurses from the event held 12.05.26 **

In aged care, nursing looks different to what you might see on a hospital ward. It is the gentle hand that notices a subtle change in someone's condition. The quiet conversation with a family member who is worried. The careful, considered work of looking after people living with complex and changing health needs.

It is also deeply personal. Our nurses know the residents they care for. They know their stories, their preferences, and their sense of humour too.

As our CEO Amanda Crook says: "Our nurses bring skill, warmth and dedication to every shift, and they make an extraordinary difference in the lives of our residents, clients and their families. Every day, we are grateful for the care they provide."

To every nurse in the Coolibah team - thank you. You make a difference.

Happy International Nurses Day. 💙

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day. 💛

To the mums, grandmothers, aunts, neighbours, and every woman who has nurtured, guided and supported someone she loves - today is for you!

Whether it's a high tea, a home-cooked meal, a phone call, or simply being together, we hope it is filled with warmth and love.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Coolibah Care. ☕🌷

08/05/2026

Did you know the tradition of afternoon tea dates all the way back to the 1840s? ☕🍰 It was Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who started it all!

Feeling a little peckish between lunch and a fashionably late dinner, she asked for tea, bread, butter and cake to be brought to her rooms. Before long, her friends were joining her and the tradition of afternoon tea was born.

By the 1880s it had become a full social occasion, complete with fine china and cucumber sandwiches.

With Mother's Day fast approaching, whether you're enjoying a proper high tea or a cuppa and a biscuit, we think the Duchess would approve. 😊

Do enjoy! 💛

07/05/2026

If you, a family member, or a friend has ever driven home from a visiting a loved one in a residential aged care home and found yourself wondering if the right decision was made ... then read on.

Moving a loved one with dementia into residential aged care is one of the hardest decisions a family can make. For many people, the relief of knowing they are safe and cared for sits right alongside a guilt that is hard to shake.

You are not alone in that.

As part of our Dementia Series, we talk about it honestly in our latest blog - why guilt is so common after this kind of decision, what it's really telling you, and how families find their way through.

Read it here: https://coolibah.org.au/news-blogs/coping-with-guilt-after-moving-loved-one-into-aged-care/

Coolibah Care Mandurah explores why guilt after moving a loved one with dementia into residential aged care happens & how families can cope.