$1.56 MILLION FOR SIX EXTRA PLACES AT KANANDAH, MUDGEE

Works are almost complete on a million-dollar upgrade and extension of Kanandah Retirement in Mudgee, with the aged care centre receiving a $1,156,048 Federal Government grant to undertake the project in August last year.

The capital works, due to be complete in May, will create six new placements at the Hostel.

These placements will also be funded by the Australian Government, which has allocated Kanandah six additional residential aged care places, worth about $400,000 per year.

This funding is ongoing.

Federal Member for Calare and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence personnel, Andrew Gee, said the funding package, spanning the significant capital works project and new residential aged care places, represents a large investment in residential aged care in Mudgee.

“Improving and expanding local residential facilities and aged care services is fundamental to keeping our country communities strong,” said Minister Gee.

“Safe, secure and comfortable residential care homes, designed around the needs of residents, offer peace-of-mind and security for local residents in care.

“That’s why I’m pleased the Australian Government has supported the upgrade and extension of Kanandah with a $1,156,048 grant.

“It’s great to see that the frames and roof trusses are up, and that the improvements to Kanandah are powering ahead - with tools down expected in mid-May,” said Minister Gee.

“The funding has enabled the centre to build 11 brand new rooms, with construction also wrapping up on an isolation unit which is vacuum sealed. Residents who may have contracted a potentially contagious, airborne disease can comfortably stay in this unit while they isolate from their peers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a need for this special room which ensures infectious diseases stay contained to one room, rather than potentially infecting others nearby.

“If no residents require the room for isolation purposes, the completely self-contained unit will be used as a respite room.

“Once these capital works are complete, six new placements will have been created for senior Australians across the region who are carefully considering the next phase of their life.

“Importantly, these six new placements will also be supported by the Australian Government, which has allocated Kanandah with six additional residential aged care places, worth an estimated $400,000 per year.

“These extra places mean local seniors and their families can have more confidence, knowing they have future care options in locations as close as possible to the places they know and love.

“The $1.15 million Australian Government grant has also enabled Kanandah to replace its nurse call system with the most up-to-date technology right throughout the facility, ensuring internal communication equipment is the best it can be.

“The new system involves permanent wall buzzers in each room and bathroom, and real-time tracking technology, so nurses can immediately locate a resident in need of assistance.

“The Federal funding will also cover an overhaul of the current firefighting system at the centre, which required under-road boring.

“The combination of capital works funding and additional aged care places means we can improve the quality, safety and accessibility of residential aged care in our country communities.

“This is about reinforcing the future of care for senior Australians across the Mudgee region,” said Mr Gee.

Support for the million dollar upgrade and extension of Kanandah is through the 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round, which funded 72 infrastructure projects across the country.

Funding for the six additional aged care places at Kanandah is under the 2018–19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

Information about ACAR outcomes, including details of the successful providers, is available at www.health.gov.au

Media contact: Sinead Fogarty - 0417 852 386