New Vic public nursing home in Wangaratta
Residents in public aged care in Wangaratta will move from six-bed wards to single or double rooms with ensuites, when the new 62-bed nursing home, an $11 million State Government development replacing two outdated wings of the Wangaratta Hospital, is completed.
The Victorian Government provides around 40% of aged care residential places in rural Victoria and some 16% of total places across the state. The 2006-07 budget provided funding so that every public sector residential aged care centre in Victoria meets Commonwealth 2008 certification..
The new building will improve residents’ privacy, comfort, security and safety as well as provide a better workplace for staff.
The Catholic Trust of Sandhurst provided the land for the centre to the Department of Human Services on a long-term lease. The Catholic Church has not only helped the development by making this site available, but is a major provider of residential aged care in Wangaratta.
The new centre will include two extra beds designated for respite services. These beds will be possible due to project savings that came with not having to purchase land.
