Grutzner House
Grutzner House is a specialist mental health residential service. The service is available to older people living with enduring mental health challenges who need ongoing specialised care and support. It is a 20-bed facility located on Monash Street at the GV Health Shepparton campus, operated by Goulburn Valley Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
Grutzner House provides a safe, home-like environment where residents are supported to live with dignity, privacy and choice. Our goal is for every resident to stay connected with the people, activities and Culture that matter to them, and to be actively involved in decisions about their own care.
Who is this service for?
Grutzner House supports:
- Older people living with mental health challenges who need specialist residential care
- People whose mental health and care needs cannot be fully met in mainstream residential aged care
- People needing either permanent residential care or respite care, the mix of places is flexible depending on need
- People who have a current aged care assessment approving residential care
What kind of care and support does Grutzner House provide?
Care is tailored to each resident and may include:
- 24-hour nursing care from staff with specialist mental health qualifications
- Regular on-site reviews with a Consultant Psychiatrist, held fortnightly for all residents
- Ongoing care from your own GP, who visits on site and remains part of your care team
- Access to a Consultant Geriatrician (through Geri-Connect), working alongside your GP and psychiatrist
- Allied health services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and dental care, arranged as needed
- Support with everyday activities such as personal care, meals and mobility, with independence encouraged wherever possible
- Medication management, with medications supplied through a local pharmacy
- An individual care plan developed with you, and with the people important to you, that reflects your social, cultural, spiritual and intimacy needs
Care is collaborative. Residents and their representatives are encouraged to make choices about their care and to participate in care planning with the health care team. Interpreters are available if needed.
What is daily life like at Grutzner House?
Grutzner House is designed to feel like home:
- Facilities include 20 private rooms across two wings, some with ensuites, each with a bed, bedside table and chair
- Residents are encouraged to bring personal belongings that help them feel at home
- Each wing has its own lounge and dining area, with access to a secure garden
- An activities room and a private family and visitor room are available
- All meals are prepared fresh by GV Health’s kitchen, with a multiple-choice menu and every effort made to meet individual tastes, dietary, cultural and allergy needs
- A Lifestyle Coordinator plans individual and group activities based on each resident’s interests and abilities, including outings, entertainment, buffet lunches, gardening, cards, painting and physical activities
- Grutzner House hosts monthly resident meetings, where residents, families, friends and staff can raise ideas and have a say in life at Grutzner House
- A monthly newsletter is mailed and emailed to families and carers, who are welcome to contribute items
- iPads are available for residents to email and video call family and friends
- We offer regular visits from ministers of various faiths, and support to stay connected with your own faith community or any organisation you are, or would like to be, involved in
Who works at Grutzner House?
You and your family may be supported by:
- Nurse Unit Manager, responsible for the overall running of the service
- Associate Nurse Unit Managers, rostered on every shift, 7 days a week
- Enrolled Nurses including staff with psychiatric nursing qualifications
- Consultant Psychiatrist and Consultant Geriatrician
- Your own GP
- Lifestyle Coordinator
- Allied health professionals
- Carer Consultants, who bring their own lived experience as carers and can support families through the transition into residential care.
Nursing staff are available to carers and families 24 hours a day for feedback, concerns, support and planning.
How do I access Grutzner House?
Access to Grutzner House is arranged through the Aged Persons Assessment and Treatment Team (APATT) at GV Health.
Before admission:
- All prospective residents need a current assessment approving residential care, completed through the aged care assessment process – your APATT case manager can guide you through this
- Prospective residents and their families are encouraged to visit Grutzner House – your case manager can arrange a convenient time, and you will receive an admission pack with everything you need to know
- A meeting will be arranged with the Nurse Unit Manager (or their delegate) to go through the admission process and paperwork
- A GP who can visit on site will be identified before admission
- A resident agreement setting out services, fees, rights and responsibilities will be completed before entry
The process can feel complicated, but staff will support you through every step. Please ask questions at any time. Acceptance depends on the availability of a place and the service’s ability to meet the person’s care needs.
What happens when I move in?
Moving into residential care is a big change, and our staff are here to make the transition as smooth as possible:
- Staff will spend time getting to know you, your representative, family and carers, and work with you to develop a care plan that reflects your individual needs and preferences
- Any additional services you need, such as physiotherapy or podiatry, will be arranged for you
- The Lifestyle Coordinator will talk with you about your interests, so activities reflect what you enjoy
- All new residents are discussed at the weekly clinical review meeting with the Consultant Psychiatrist, to support the transition and make sure care needs are identified early
- A family conference is offered around six weeks after admission
- Carer Consultants are available to support families through this transition
How can family, carers and friends be involved?
Family and friends are always welcome at Grutzner House:
- Visiting hours are flexible and can be arranged to suit both residents and families
- Family functions can be held at Grutzner House with a little notice – staff can set up the family and visitor room for a private gathering
- Families and carers receive the monthly newsletter and are welcome to attend resident meetings
- Residents can make and receive phone calls, and video call family and friends using the house iPads
- Nursing staff can be contacted 24 hours a day
When visiting, please sign the visitor book and let staff know when you arrive and leave, so we can keep everyone safe.
Fees and financial information
Care and accommodation fees are set by the Australian Government and charged strictly in accordance with aged care legislation. Grutzner House does not set its own fees.
- Detailed information about charges and fees is included in the admission welcome pack
- A means (asset) assessment through Services Australia is completed before admission, to make sure you are never over-charged
- A copy of your pension, Medicare or veterans’ cards will be needed on entry
- Fees are paid by direct debit
Staff can talk you through any of this. Please ask.
Your rights and feedback
Every resident has the right to safe, respectful care, personal privacy, and choice in their daily life and care planning.
We welcome and value feedback, and want to hear about any concerns residents, families or carers may have:
- Feedback and complaints forms are available near reception, and complaints can be confidential if requested – staff can assist
- A Confidential Quality Improvement form is included on the back of every newsletter
- Resident satisfaction surveys are sent from time to time
You can also raise concerns with external bodies, including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, the Office of the Public Advocate and the Ombudsman. Contact numbers are displayed in the foyer, and staff can help you make contact.
- ADDRESS
Goulburn Valley Health
Graham Street
Shepparton, 3630
- CONTACT
Emergency: 000
Phone: (03) 4804 4630
GV Health Mental Health Triage: 1300 369 005
My Aged Care: 1800 200 422
Nurse on call: 1300 60 60 24
for non life threatening injury/illness
- RELATED LINKS