Brightwater’s multipurpose facility opening soon
The Inglewood site, which opens on 14 November, includes a 128-bed residential aged care home.
Western Australia aged care provider Brightwater Care Group’s new 128-bed residential aged care home will receive its first visitors on Monday 14 November.
“To be able to welcome our very first residents is a very special moment in our history,” said Brightwater chief executive officer Professor Catherine Stoddart.
Five years in development – and located in Inglewood, an inner-city suburb of Perth – the multipurpose, three-storey facility incorporates not only a residential age care community, but also a research centre and a training centre. The site will also act as Brightwater’s corporate headquarters.
“We began with a vision to bring the people we care for, and the people who support that work across corporate, training and research divisions, under one roof,” said Professor Stoddart. “To see that moment come to life is a moment I will remember for a long time.”
While the Inglewood facility has been developed to cater to a variety of residents’ care needs, a strong focus has been put into the design so that it is dementia friendly.
The site features a collection of small house communities, with 16 residents in each house sharing their own living areas, including a kitchen and outdoor spaces.
With the residential aged care home situated on the second and third floors, the ground floor houses Brightwater’s new head office. “We wanted corporate staff to see elders being cared for right next to them,” explained Professor Stoddart.
Systems are in place to support staff, residents and visitors in three key ways: clinical, operational and lifestyle.
The latest technology is embedded into the building’s design to facilitate wellness and independence, said Professor Stoddart. “It truly is a smart building whose occupants and users will probably be never aware of the innovation operating behind the scenes to make it a better place to live and work.”
Among its technological features, an advanced monitoring system has been installed, said Professor Stoddart – a registered nurse. “With a resident’s permission, staff can monitor each person individually as they move around their room and building, which leads to a safer living environment.”
Brightwater Inglewood also features state-of-the-art heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems across all areas of the building to reduce energy and water use.
In the event of an infection outbreak, the ventilation system will operate an increased flush cycle to bring in fresh air at double the rate set by Australian standards.
Since development commenced in January 2021, more than 2,500 contractors – plus others – have worked to complete the new building. “Even the smallest decisions were made knowing they could have a big impact,” said Professor Stoddart.
It is, she added, a proud time for the Brightwater team. “It is a space that reminds us on a daily basis why we are here – to provide service in support of our core function of caring.”
Main image: Brightwater’s new Inglewood site, which opens 14 November
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