KINGSTON’S elderly residents will have access to high-quality “ageing in place” residential care in their neighbourhood after Kingston Council last week selected not-for-profit organisation Southern Cross Care (Victoria) to take over its residential aged care services.
This followed a public tender process.
The mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said the tender evaluation panel unanimously found Southern Cross Care would provide the highest-quality accommodation, care and services. “I’m pleased to announce our elderly residents will be cared for by such an experienced, award-winning not-for-profit group,” he said.
“Kingston Council is one of the last remaining Victorian local councils to deliver residential aged care services and this has been a major decision by council. We have acted to ensure that our elderly residents can receive top-quality care from expert providers, in modern facilities all within their own neighbourhood for years to come.
“Council’s existing facilities cannot provide ‘ageing in place’ residential care nor do its facilities meet the standards provided by an organisation such as Southern Cross Care.
“Most importantly, the council has ensured that all existing residents in the council hostels will be able to move into the new facility with no change to their financial arrangements.
“Southern Cross Care will build a new state-of-the-art ‘ageing in place’ home in Mentone that will provide quality care for Kingston’s ageing residents. It will also take over management of the council’s three existing aged care centres: Northcliffe Lodge, Nixon Hostel and Corben House, plus the independently run Mordialloc Community Nursing Home, which is on council-owned land, while the new home is built.
“Southern Cross Care will develop a fantastic modern home that will meet the long-term needs of our ageing population and give their families certainty for the future,” Cr Gledhill said.
“While council’s existing homes can only cater for lower-care residents the new ‘ageing in place’ home will enable residents to remain on the one site as their residential care needs change.”
Mordialloc Community Nursing Home president Bill Nixon said the management committee was pleased to join the council in the venture. “Southern Cross is a well-established specialist aged care provider that has excellent credentials to operate our nursing home; we are very pleased to see that the home’s residents will continue to be in good hands.”
Southern Cross Care (Victoria) is thrilled to be selected to offer quality residential aged care to the Kingston community.
“We have a long and proud history of offering quality care and services set in an intimate and homely environment,” CEO Jan Horsnell said. “We look forward to a strong future in Kingston, first in the existing homes and then in a new state-of-the-art purpose-built home.”
Construction of the Collins St, Mentone, home is expected to take three years with current hostel residents given access with no change to their existing financial arrangements.
Corben House will continue to run for five years after the transfer of ownership. The council will consult widely on the future use of the existing sites before they become vacant.
Cr Gledhill and Mr Nixon have said the council and the Mordialloc Community Nursing Home would continue to be active in supporting and keeping all residents, families, staff and volunteers informed throughout the transition process that is expected to be completed by April.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 4 November 2015
