New aged care centre in the works

Wollongong-based seniors’ lifestyle and aged care provider, IRT Group, will invest more than $25 million on a 100-bed aged care centre in Tarrawanna.

IRT chief executive, Nieves Murray, said the two-level 8,000 square metre project would also provide much-needed dementia specific care, as well as individual care suites and staff training facilities.

“Along with the future planned redevelopment of the existing IRT Towradgi Park care centre, the Caldwell Avenue construction cements our market position in the Northern Illawarra,” Ms Murray said.

“This will be a modern facility built right where there is a growing customer demand for aged care services.”

According to Ms Murray, the Wollongong Local Government Area will see a 72% increase in people over the age of 65 years in the next 25 years alone. The federal government predicts a doubling in the number of dementia sufferers over the same period.

“By 2047, there will be a four-fold increase in the number of people aged over 85. That will mean a lot of pressure is placed on aged care resources as well as dementia specific care – we need new infrastructure and this investment demonstrates a commitment to meet the requirements of an ageing population and a commitment to the people of the Illawarra,” Ms Murray said.

She added the federal government’s Living Longer. Living Better aged care reforms package has enabled IRT to invest funds into the construction aged care centres through improved capital arrangements.

“The previous system of accommodation bonds leads to little investment being made over the past decade in the development of new high-level aged care accommodation across the industry.

“However, the changes that will be introduced in 2014 will allow for a more equitable and viable capital funding structure,” Ms Murray said.

“Although the government’s reforms have recently been criticised for reducing direct care funding, there are some longer term improvements that the reform package will deliver over the coming decade that should see more capital investment in aged care.”

The IRT Group will be reviewing tender documents and issue invitations to tender in October. Building on the site is expected to start  early next year with residents and staff taking possession of the premises in mid-2014.