The flagship launches!
Warrigal Care unveils the finished product of its upgraded Albion Park Rail village, which is set to become the organisation’s flagship site.
(Above) Outside an independent living unit: Former State MP for Kiama, Matt Brown; CEO Warrigal Care, Mark Sewell; State MP for Kiama, Gareth Ward; Chairman Warrigal Care and Alan Hardy.
By Yasmin Noone
Warrigal Care’s new flagship model of aged care at Albion Park Rail (NSW) has been officially unveiled, following a recent $10 million upgrade of the site.
Developed to provide residents with a seamless transition throughout the stages of ageing, the improved site now caters for independent and retirement living, high and low care needs, people with dementia, those in receipt of palliative care and more.
The upgrade, designed by Hodges Shorten Architects and developed by Zadro Construction, includes eight additional independent living villas; a head office extension and garden landscaping.
“This is a model to provide care for all residents to last for 30 to 40 years,” said CEO of Warrigal Care, Mark Sewell.
“The upgrade means that 250 people can get their aged care on site until the day they pass away – from retirement living all the way through all of their stages of ageing.”
Mr Sewell spoke of the Productivity Commission’s recommendation, which suggested that providers offer older people a smoother transition between the different stages of ageing. The Albion Park Rail site is therefore, much of the draft report in practice.
“We don’t want the barriers between different levels of care and different types of funding. So it’s quite important that this model be developed and that providers be strong and confident enough to go ahead and do it.”
State and local dignitaries attended the opening, along side 150 other guests, to celebrate an end to construction, the final product and the start of an improved ‘ageing in place’ future.
The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, also sent a video message congratulating Warrigal Care on extending the reach of its aged care services.
“We are not developers,” said Mr Sewell. “Our business is service expansion.
“You need determination to do what we do…We are very determined to keep growing and provide all the services that older people might need.
“Grown is often chaotic…but finished results are such a relief.
“There are so many reasons to hold back. The service system is at best, very complex…But we are determined not to give up.
“We are determined to ensure that older people live life well, make their own choices in the journey, stay informed and stay in charge of their own lives.
“We do want to celebrate getting old.”
Warrigal Care is a not-for-profit aged care provider which first opened retirement villas in 1993.
To view a YouTube video about the organisation and its independant living services, click here.
