Innovative care hub to deliver enhanced services in WA
Western Australian community services provider Juniper has plans to build an innovative aged care service hub to provide a full range of aged care options to the local community.
The new facility will bringing together a range of accommodation as well as space devoted to existing HACC and home care services, therapy and exercise spaces.
It will also deliver nursing and dementia care services, medical care and allied health services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, massage and pain management.
Chief Executive Vaughan Harding says the project brings together 32 residential aged care places with home care and support services in a modern facility designed for the Kimberley climate and sensitive to local cultural expectations.
“We have worked closely with the community to help realise a vision for Kununurra, to bring enhanced aged care services and opportunities to the town and region that are designed to meet current and future needs.”
“There is a strong need for residential aged care and community care support services in the region and this, coupled with a high level of confidence and investment in Kununurra, will bring positive economic activity and important infrastructure to the town and wider community,” according to Mr Harding.
“A new aged care service hub will provide more options for people living in Kununurra and the wider region, whereas at the moment families and older people are often forced look to Darwin and Perth for care and support.
The aged care hub’s responsive amenities will include:
- A covered activities area catering for all residents, clients and visitors.
- Modern administration offices, a medical consulting room and nurses’ treatment room for residents and community clients.
- A large commercially-equipped gourmet-style kitchen serving a large internal dining room overlooks the courtyard and alfresco dining areas.
- Architecture aimed at maximising light and space while providing a high level of comfort and amenity for residents, clients and visitors.
- On site-parking for staff and five onsite staff accommodation units, which are planned for the repurposed HACC building.
Juniper will jointly fund the project with the Australian Government and will seek approximately $11.5 million in grant funding to help construct and commission the facility.
It is expected the project will commence early next year with completion expected by the end of 2017.
