Residential Aged Care

Hesse Lodge is a boutique 24 bed residential area located within Hesse Rural Health in Winchelsea, a country town by the Barwon River just 25 minutes from both Geelong and Colac on the Princes Highway, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Melbourne. Operated by Hesse Rural Health, Hesse Lodge is co-located with the Winchelsea Hospital.

15 ensuited rooms and 8 non-ensuited rooms are private, with carpet flooring and a single bed. 1 room is shared, and provides an apportunity for transition to a private room. Large windows looks out onto beautifully kept gardens and rural spaces. Ample storage and display shelving is available. Private telephones are available for each room on request, for a one off setup fee and flat monthly rate of $25. Free to air television points are installed, and an 8 channel Foxtel connection is available free of charge.

The open plan dining area with natural lighting seats 24 residents and comfortably caters for up to seventy persons for special events such as concerts, dances and other celebratory gatherings. A lounge area sits adjacent to the dining space, with a Foxtel connection provided. A second spacious lounge is furnished with comfortable and stylish seating, and provides Foxtel and media entertainment. Expansive windows and coloured glass make this a warm and inviting area, with a water feature and close access to a kitchenette for visitors. Private sitting areas are also provided, including a secluded lounge and a dedicated care planning room for family care meetings.

Expansive windows overlook tranquil, established gardens, with an outlook towards a small man-made lake and windmill that provide water for the gardens and farm animals. Pagolas adjacent to the windows have been designed to maximise the sun in the winter months, while providing shade and protection in the summer. The elevated ceiling pitch and roof turrets cast a display of changing light streams across the floor. Coloured and textured glass has been incorporated within the facilitys common areas. Local artwork is displayed throughout the facility with usability enhanced through purposeful design. A circular driveway enables easy access for visiting family and friends to assist residents to vehicles.

Meals are cooked on site and served fresh from the oven. Bookings for visiting family members who may wish to join a resident for a meal may be arranged. Located just a short walk from the post office, supermarket, bank, and cafes, the facility is ideally situated for both assisted and independent access to community facilities. The Winchelsea Primary School is directly opposite, and the picturesque Barwon River also nearby.

The co-located Winchelsea Hospital and Werruna, an internationally acclaimed dementia facility, facilitate ageing in place by providing access to the appropriate care and environment required. Weekly outings are arranged by dedicated activities personnel using the facility’s own bus transport for picnics, concerts, shopping, dining and visiting attractions such as galleries and shows. Other recreational activities planned within the facility include performances from the local school children, singing and piano recitals, guest speakers, church services, art and crafts, a book club, and access to iPads.

On site services include physiotherapy, speech therapy, podiatry, hearing tests, eye care, hairdressing, occupational therapy, diabetes education and a dietician providing advice on nutrition. Hesse Lodge is also supported by a thriving local GP practice.

Innovative in its design, Werruna is Hesse Rural Health’s secure 10 bed rural memory support unit covering 500 square metres. The open plan spacious indoor and outdoor environment is unique in providing for resident freedom and autonomy. A high ratio of care staff to residents provides for increased individualised care.                

Each private, carpeted, spacious room has a single bed, an ensuite and a large window looking out onto our beautifully kept gardens and rural spaces. Architecturally designed as part of the overall dementia environment, a safe outdoor farm space is freely accessible to residents. Bedrooms with small private ensuites sit adjacent to lounge and dining spaces, ensuring ready resident access to social activity. Open communal space is divided into recognisable, functional dining and living zones. A double sided open fireplace forms an attractive feature. Cedar panelling and solid blackwood cabinetry complement the internal tumbled brickwork. Alternative private spaces include a small formal glass conservatory, a kitchen and an artist’s studio.

Respite care is available for people with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), enabling families to have a break from caring for their relatives at home. The service is available for residents with high care, low care and dementia needs and is available for long term or daytime respite. Bookings can be made by contacting the Director of Nursing on 5267 1200.

For further information about ACAT and what is required, please visit the My Age Care website - Preparing for your aged care assessment | My Aged Care

We know that understanding the fees and charges applicable to entry into residential aged care can be daunting for first time users. If you would like to make an appointment to discuss these with us, please call our Administration team on (03) 5267 1200, available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Fees payable following entry into Hesse Rural Health’s aged care service are set as per guidelines from the Commonwealth Department of Health. There are four types of residential aged care fees. One or more may apply, depending on wealth. Capacity to contribute towards these fees is determined by the Department of Human Services through completion of an ‘Assets and Income Assessment’.

A short summary of aged care fees and charges is provided below.

(1) The Basic Daily Care Fee

This standard fee, payable by all residents, represents 85% of the single rate of the aged pension, and increases incrementally in March and September each year. The current standard fee is $66.80 per day.

(2) Non-Clinical Care Contribution

This fee is determined by the Department of Human Services following the completion by the resident of an Assets and Income Assessment. This represents an additional contribution towards the cost of care, payable by residents with assets and annual income above thresholds set by the Commonwealth. If payable, the fee is subject to an annual and a lifetime cap.

(3) Hoteling Contribution

Services Australia will tell you if you need to pay a hotelling contribution and if so, how much you need to pay. This is based on your means assessment. The maximum amount changes with indexation in March and September.

(4) Accommodation Payment

If your assets and income are low, the Commonwealth may subsidise some or all of this fee. However, if it is determined that you have the means to cover your accommodation costs, there is a flexible range of payment options available. Hesse has an accommodation room price that is set on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of $495,000. This is a maximum only, and the room price that is offered will be dependent on a person’s means. Nine of our 56 aged care rooms do not have ensuites and are priced separately at $380,000.

Option 1: Refundable Accommodation Deposit

A Refundable Accommodation Deposit is a lump sum amount equal to the agreed room price (for example, $495,000). The Provider will retain 2% of your lump sum per year and after 5 years in care, no further retention amount will be deducted. This has the nature of an ‘interest free loan’ to the health service. If you choose to leave, or in the eventuality of the Estate, the amount will be refunded, minus any retention amount or outstanding account balance.

Option 2: Daily Accommodation Payment

A Daily Accommodation Payment is a daily charge calculated from the agreed room price using the interest rate and indexation advised by the Commonwealth.  If you pay by DAP, this amount will increase due to indexation on 20th March and 20th September each year.

Option 3: Combination of Option 1 and Option 2

A combination of a lump sum Refundable Accommodation Deposit and a Daily Accommodation Payment may be arranged. A partial lump sum payment reduces the daily accommodation fee payable. You may also request that this daily fee be deducted from the lump sum that is held by the Health Service.

(updated 27/03/26)

For more information on our costs, rooms, food, and specialised care, visit the My Aged Care website.

Hesse Lodge, Winchelsea

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Phasing Out of Cheques

Our plan to implement the requirements for phasing out of cheques and to encourage other payment methods to be utilised by June 2026. We will cease accepting any cheques as a payment method from 1st January 2027.

We have received advice that the Victorian Government is phasing out cheques in line with the Commonwealth Government's Cheques Transition Plan, which aims to wind down the cheque system by 2030.

This transition is happening because cheque use has significantly declined as Australians adopt faster and more secure digital payment methods. Maintaining the cheque system has become less sustainable due to increased costs.

Many banks and financial institutions have already stopped offering cheque books to new customers and will cease processing cheques after a certain date.

Key Reasons for Phasing Out Cheques:

• Declining Use: Cheque usage has decreased by nearly 90% over the past decade, now making up only 0.2% of non-cash retail payments in Australia.
• Modernisation: The move is part of a broader effort to modernise the banking system.
• Efficiency and Cost Reduction: Electronic payment methods are more efficient and less costly, requiring less processing and no physical materials like paper and ink.
• Security and Fraud Reduction: Digital payments are faster and more secure, providing a full audit trail and reducing the risk of incorrect, lost, or fraudulent payments.

Key Milestones for the Phasing Out:

To ensure minimal disruption, Hesse team has agreed to the following approach and implementation plan:

• Inform clients to make payments electronically.
• Offering in-person or phone support for clients if required.
• Encourage everyone to switch payment methods by June 2026.
• Cease accepting any Cheques as a payment method from 1st January 2027.