General News
5 May, 2022
Funding secured for new aged care facility
CAMPERDOWN was a big winner in the Victorian State Budget with a new bigger aged care facility moving a step closer.
CAMPERDOWN was a big winner in the Victorian State Budget with a new bigger aged care facility moving a step closer.
Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney visited Camperdown on Tuesday to announced the Victorian Budget 2022/23 will deliver the redevelopment of Merindah Lodge Nursing Home and Merindah Lodge Aged Care at Camperdown Hospital.
The new 36-bed facility will replace the ageing facilities currently in place – delivering a bigger, better and safer home for residents.
The new facility in Camperdown will provide an environment which is dementia friendly and better suited to supporting mental health and the complex care needs of older Victorians.
Ms Tierney said the project is part of the Regional and Rural Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services Revitalisation Strategy, to modernise ageing facilities which are home to some of our most vulnerable older Victorians.
She said rural and regional public sector residential aged care services play a vital role in supporting access to appropriate services, including for vulnerable older Victorians with complex support needs.
“We’re continuing to help our local aged care services expand capacity, improve safety – but most importantly, deliver the care older Victorians deserve,” Ms Tierney said.
“This is a major upgrade which will benefit dozens of residents and give peace of mind to families in and around Camperdown.”
South West Health chief executive officer Craig Fraser welcomed the funding announcement.
“We are thrilled with the news, our team over the years have advocated strongly for this funding and it means a lot to our staff, our residents and their families,” he said.
“The construction of the building in Camperdown will increase access to high quality, purpose designed and built aged care accommodation that meets our residents’ needs, whilst focusing on providing contemporary, best practice care.”
Mr Fraser said the new facility will include a new residential aged care building co-located on the same site with the existing Camperdown Hospital, consisting of 36 single aged care bedrooms, each with an ensuite, acrosstwo levels.
“It will incorporate dementia friendly principles and there will be multiple resident and family living areas and dining areas, including discreet quiet indoor and outdoor spaces and dedicated activity areas,” he said.
“Resident amenities will include a café, hairdresser, gym, multiple community areas and a reflection space.
“The design will support our hardworking, dedicated aged care nurses and staff, our GPs and our support staff to deliver the best possible care to our Camperdown and surrounding communities.”
The Victorian State Government is investing more than $146 million in the budget to redevelop and upgrade public sector residential aged care services including new and refurbished aged care facilities at Mansfield District Hospital and Orbost Regional Health, as well as detailed design and planning work to redevelop Hawthorn Village in Bright and the Heywood Nursing Home in the state’s south-west.
