The latest in integrated living
The first of six integrated communities planned by Blue Care in south-east Queensland has been officially opened for living.
Queensland seniors have a new option to ‘age-in-place’ with the recent opening of Blue Care’s first integrated community combining retirement living, residential aged care and home care.
The new $60 million Azure Blue integrated facility at Redcliffe in south-east Queensland, opened last week, contains 122 retirement living apartments, a 96-bed single suite residential aged care facility.
Close to the Redcliffe foreshore area, the new facility will now act as the hub of the organisation’s community care services for 1,500 clients.
Blue Care executive director, Robyn Batten, said Azure Blue Redcliffe aims to provide people with seamless care and support options that promote independence and allow ageing in place.
“It is a place people can retire to, and access care services when or as they need them, while forming friendships and leading active, healthy lives,” Ms Batten said.
Onsite features include a swimming pool, barbecue area, gymnasium, recreation centre, hair salon, DVD and book library, media room, cafe, children’s playground, village bus, secure undercover parking and a 24-hour emergency call system, Ms Batten said.
And residents also have access to in-home services such as meals, laundry and cleaning.
From left: Blue Care executive director Robyn Batten, Azure Blue Redcliffe residents John and June Fraser, Governor-General of Australia Ms Quentin Bryce and UnitingCare Queensland chief executive officer Anne Cross at the official opening of the Azure Blue Redcliffe facility.
The one, two and three-bedroom apartments were built across three multi-storey buildings, which have been named after local natural landmarks – ‘Moreton’, ‘Bramble’ and ‘The Dunes’.
Nearly half of the apartments, which range in size from 65 to 121 square metres, have sold, Blue Care reports. And more than 40 residents have moved into the care facility.
It is the first of six Azure Blue developments planned for the region over the next decade by Blue Care.
Ms Batten said the development is in response to the changing needs of older people.
“Azure Blue Redcliffe complements Blue Care’s approach to services, where person-centred services are tailor made and flexible to meet people’s needs as their circumstances change,” Ms Batten said.
“Co-locating services provides enormous peace of mind for residents and their families, knowing care is available on site should it be needed down the track.”
