The $20 million redevelopment of Uniting Gerringong has been completed, and the residents can’t wait to move into their new homes.
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The 100-bed, four-level Uniting aged care home has been a little more than 18-months in the making, and feels like home, a model referred to as ‘household living’.
The model focuses on the little things, such as making a choice of breakfast, and choosing when to sit down for a meal.
Each room has a memory box at the door, residents can choose to fill it with familiar trinkets or photos of loved ones. The contents of the box reflect the resident’s values and what they hold most dear.
The 100 residents will move from their current location to the brand new building on Tuesday.
Uniting residential business lead for the south region, Anna-Marie Harmon, said the household model of care would offer residents the option to take ownership over parts of their life.
“They can choose to help themselves to tea, coffee and toast, do their own laundry and get around their household freely,” she said.
“The new building is built backed up by best practice and research and Uniting’s extensive experience in aged care to offer not only a beautiful space, but little details and amenities that help to make it feel like home.”
The new space also allows carers and visitors to stay overnight in designated visitor rooms if they are travelling long distances, or their family member is in palliative care.
“The cafe area and living spaces in each household also provide plenty of space for carers and families to share time with their loved one in a relaxed environment outside of their room,” Mrs Harmon said.
Features of the households and shared spaces include:
- Kitchen
- Lounge and dining areas
- Sitting rooms and tea stations
- Laundry
- Outdoor spaces, including the John and Helen Robinson Memorial Gardens
- 18 residential rooms and ensuites with a mix of single and double rooms
- Gymnasium
- Cafe
- Activity rooms
- Chapel
- Carer and visitor accommodation
- Hairdresser
The households have taken their names from local parts of the region and include Gerroa, Willow Vale, Toolijooa, Broughton and Foxground.
The next stage of development will see Pioneer Lodge redeveloped into 24 independent living units, with a mix of one and two-bedroom units.
Construction will start in early 2019 with head of property development Adrian Ciano anticipating it will be finished in early 2020.
“We have been continuing to prepare for the redevelopment of Pioneer Lodge over the past few months,” Mr Ciano said.
A development application has also been lodged with Kiama Council for Boronia Lodge.
“We are also planning to build a new 20 place home for the residents of Boronia Lodge, our service dedicated to supporting people living with dementia, which is also on site,” Mr Ciano said.
