Ageing community welcomes new aged care facility
One of Australia’s most rapidly ageing suburban areas has welcomed a brand new residential aged care home.
Juniper’s Fred Boshart, Minister for Aged Care and Indigenous Health Ken Wyatt and Uniting Church WA Moderator Rev Steve Francis opening the new facility (Source: Juniper)
The new facility, developed and opened by aged care provider Juniper in Western Australia’s Gosnells-Armadale area, is expected to help care and accommodate for the anticipated 115 percent growth in residents aged over 70 over the next two decades.
Juniper Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vaughan Harding says the new Juniper Hayloft residential aged care facility will bring 100 much needed additional high care beds to Perth’s south-east.
“The Gosnells-Armadale area takes in more than 177,000 people or 7.2 percent of Western Australia’s total population with an annual population growth of 58 percent in the south-east, exceeding the 40 percent growth predicted for Perth and the remainder of the State,” he explains.
“Juniper Hayloft is the expression of the positive future we envisage to respond to the needs of older people in Western Australia and for the Gosnells-Armadale community we embed this service as an intrinsic part of the local community.
“In addition to bringing more care places to one of our largest metropolitan catchment areas, Juniper Hayloft will provide employment and career opportunities for more than 120 staff including carers, allied health workers, nursing staff and managers who are required to operate the facility 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.”
Juniper Hayloft is part of the organisation’s strategic intent to double its capacity to meet the needs of Western Australia’s ageing population and involves the delivery of over 450 new residential aged care beds, including:
- A 36-place residential and community care facility, Juniper Gerdewoonem, opened in Kununurra last month;
- This 100-bed facility in Gosnells;
- A 100 bed facility now under construction in Lockyer near Albany, expected to open early 2019;
- The renewal of Juniper Chrystal Halliday in Karrinyup to bring 120 beds in 2019; and
- New services in the northern suburbs.
Mr Harding says Juniper Hayloft will provide “contemporary accommodation” in which residents can live comfortably with appropriate care to their last days.
Its amenities include accommodation, a fresh cook kitchen and open plan dining areas, lounge rooms, children’s playground, activities and alfresco areas, a medical consulting room and nurses’ treatment room. Suitable farm animals will also become an added feature over the coming months.
