PAC continues expansion
Saturday saw the official opening of John Flynn House, a 74-bed low care extension to St Andrew’s Village, Hughes in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). An initiative of the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Canberra, the $20 million building provides rooms and living areas for older Canberrans.
Linked to an existing 102-bed low care home and 30 independent living town houses, John Flynn House incorporates space for visiting health professionals and a community centre.
Also newly opened is Presbyterian Aged Care (PAC) Minnamurra at Clements St, Drummoyne in New South Wales (NSW), a 65-bed ageing-in-place facility including a 13-bed secure dementia unit, and 3 respite beds, costing $14.3 million. The two projects are part of a total investment of $39 million in building upgrades and development across Presbyterian Aged Care NSW & ACT from 2005 to mid 2009.
“The next exciting phase is growth of our community programs and independent living accommodation,” said Paul Sadler, PAC chief executive officer.
“New day respite programs have opened in Sydney’s Inner West and the Hunter in the past couple of months. We are now focusing on developing multi-purpose sites including residential care, community care and seniors housing”.
Work has commenced on the plans to develop a new 104-bed residential aged care facility, 87 seniors independent living units and 4 apartments at Paddington in inner Sydney, replacing the existing 88-bed aged care facility dating from the 1970s.
The plan will restore the heritage Scottish Hospital building, devote space to much needed parkland in inner city Paddington and examine options for additional community services such as a child care centre will be developed on land leased to the Trustees for the purpose.
“PAC is also planning the redevelopment of our property at 17-33 Charlotte Street, Ashfield in Sydney’s Inner West. The heritage home, Pittwood House, will be revitalised to house PAC’s Inner West community care programs with the balance of the site developed with 26 independent living units and 3 villas,” he said.
These and other programs in the pipeline will see PAC invest over $120 million in building upgrades and new developments in the next five years.
Mr Sadler concluded, “Presbyterian Aged Care looks forward to expanding its services to older people in the future. It remains difficult to afford to build new high care facilities due to Government funding restrictions, but we are confident our strategy will meet many people’s needs across NSW and the ACT”.
