New aged care unit at Prince of Wales Hospital

A $5.2 million purpose-built, state of the art, aged care ward has officially opened at the Prince of Wales Hospital to provide modern care for older patients.

The relocated and refurbished 58-bed unit is built across two floors in the hospital’s Parkes Building. It contains a new 31 bed acute care unit which includes two bariatric beds for overweight patients.

There is an acute aged care extended behavioural unit for six patients, with access to a walking track and an outdoor balcony, plus the unit features an independent living suite to assist patients with their transition back home from hospital.

In addition, there are 21 rehabilitation beds and a gymnasium. The lighting, colour scheme and finishes have been specially designed to assist older patients who suffer from visual and cognitive problems and the bathrooms have also been redesigned to better meet the needs of older patients.

Both floors have a central reception desk and nursing station, lounge and dining rooms for patients, secure storage for rehabilitation equipment and medical stores, conference and staff rooms.

The unit incorporates a discreet security system to help keep patients with dementia and other disorienting disorders safe and give added support to staff.