Be creative with aged care design
Australian aged care providers need to be creative in their design of new facilities, according to a Victorian not for profit aged care provider.
Benetas board chairman, John McKenzie; CEO, Sandra Hills; and Corowa Court resident, Laurie Hill.
Benetas is responding to the increasing demand for aged care on the Mornington Peninsula by investing in a $13 million expansion of its Corowa Court facility.
The significant expansion, which will increase the capacity of the facility from 60 to 120 beds, will see a range of innovations introduced, aimed at increasing social connectedness of residents and improving their wellbeing and access to services.
The commencement of redevelopment works was celebrated at an official ‘Turning of the sod’ event at the site yesterday, with representatives from local government, parishes and the local community joining residents, families and staff from Benetas Corowa Court to mark the occasion.
Benetas chief executive, Sandra Hills, says the greater demand for aged care services meant providers needed to be more creative in their design of new facilities.
“With more than 21% of people living on the Mornington Peninsula aged 65 or older, this expansion will ensure that Benetas can meet the increasing demand for aged care in the area, now and well into the future,” Ms Hills says.
“We are committed to ensuring that not only do we meet this need, but that we meet it in the most responsive ways possible.
“More and more people want to live in their own homes as they age, asnd we will support them to do that. Yet the reality is, many people still need residential aged care, and we need to be able to provide innovative building and design solutions to make their stay with us as comfortable and enjoyable as possible,” she says.
The expanded facility will include the introduction of cluster type living, with bedrooms planned around smaller, more accessible resident activity areas, and increased proximity to internal support services.
The site is expected to be completed for occupation in October 2015.
