Funding to upgrade residential aged care

GREAT Ocean Road Health and Barwon Health are being supported through a state government program to upgrade public sector residential aged care services outside Melbourne.

The $10 million Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Program aims to help meet the growing demand for quality services in regional and rural Victoria

Great Ocean Road Health will receive $50,454 to improve the layout and workflow of the laundry at Lorne Community Hospital including installation of new benches and a sink to improve access and efficiency, while Barwon Health will use its funding to upgrade its wi-fi to link to nurse call and electronic care systems at its McKellar Centre and the Percy Baxter, Blakiston and Alan David lodges.

Last week, Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney announced there were 21 successful public sector aged care recipients in the program.

“We’re ensuring older people in the Otway community will have the quality facilities and services they need to age well.

“This funding will create jobs right here in Lorne while also delivering modern public sector residential aged care facilities.

“It’s another solid investment in the future of public aged care in Lorne and the Otways, from a government that is committed to strengthening the aged care and community health sector.”

The Victorian Government is spending more than $338.4 million to deliver new facilities with more than 420 beds across Kew, Wantirna, Cheltenham, Rutherglen, Edenhope and Seymour.

“We’re modernising and upgrading public residential aged care right across the state – providing older Victorians with access to the very best services, amenities and care,” then-Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan said.

“This is about ensuring aged care facilities in regional and rural Victoria have the vital infrastructure and equipment they need to continue to care for their local community.”

For more information on the Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Program and a full list of recipients, head to the Victorian Health Building Authority website.