Autumn Lodge in Armidale to merge with Uniting
Aged care and retirement living provider Autumn Lodge has selected Uniting NSW.ACT to merge with.
Standalone provider Autumn Lodge Aged Care in Armidale in the state’s New England region has selected Uniting NSW.ACT to undertake exclusive merger negotiations with.
The aged care and retirement living provider said it landed on Uniting as “the best fit and strongest applicant” after “a robust process of gradual refinement from a long list of 17 organisations down to a final four” providers who presented to the board.
Autumn Lodge Aged Care chair David Steller Uniting NSW.ACT had the right values, experience, track record and vision.
“There is a strong fit with the values of Autumn Lodge, experience in regional service delivery, capacity to add value to the existing operations, and experience in major capital works programs that can extend and/or upgrade the existing facilities,” Mr Steller said in a statement.
“Uniting has also recently completed a similar merger of Crookwell and Taralga Aged Care – a similar community-based aged care provider to Autumn Lodge.”
Mr Steller said the key factors in selecting Uniting included its commitment to:
- build on the existing service and create a regional hub
- redevelop the site in the medium term
- continue procurement from local businesses where possible
- retain staff.
The ongoing sustainability of Autumn Lodge, which has been around since 1896 and operating in its current form since 1956, is on a much surer footing with Uniting’s commitment to continue and build upon its legacy, he said.
Uniting executive director Tracey Burton said Uniting supported more than 118,000 seniors across NSW and the ACT including existing home care clients in Armidale and aged care residents in nearby Tamworth.
“We are optimistic about the future of care and services in the broader New England region. We look forward to Autumn Lodge joining the Uniting family as we continue to expand our services in the region,” Ms Burton said in a statement.
Transfer of operations from the current board to Uniting is planned to be completed at the Annual General Meeting on 26 September.
Main image: Autumn Lodge Aged Care
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