Group photo of Cowra Retirement Village staff members. Photo: Supplied.
Just DAYS after Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack MP appeared in a TV interview and announced there would be a “good outcome” for the Harden aged care closure situation, there is one now.
Earlier this week the Board and Management of the Cowra Retirement Village announced they have plans to recommission the former St Lawrence Residential Aged Facility in Harden.
This news has been greatly welcomed by the community, following many months of unrest after Southern Cross Care’s abrupt closure of Harden’s only aged care facility in January.
The news that rocked the community as well as uprooted many residents, also left many questions unanswered and provided a multitude of inconsistencies.
According to a Southern Cross Care statement earlier this year, they said demand for beds had been below the industry average over the past three years, with 10 beds vacant at the centre at that time, although there’s been knowledge that there was a waiting list continually extending.
Additionally families of residents petition’s not to close the facility, fell on deaf ears. There was certainly a need for it.
During the months of lobbying to save the facility as well as speculations on who could purchase it earlier this year, board members of the Cowra Retirement Village proactively negotiated with the owner, re a take over.
Cowra Retirement Village board members were made aware of the Harden facility closure and were at the same time, looking at expansion opportunities for the organisation.
By the time Cowra Retirement Village board members made enquiries, residents from the Harden facility had already relocated.
Cowra Retirement Village Chief Executive Officer Scott Kable said it has been a “fairly long process” to get to where talks are today, which are plans to purchase the facility once due diligence is completed.
What made it ‘cross the line’ with the positive news earlier this week, was the finalising of the contract conditions.
Cowra Retirement Village’s due diligence will now begin and run for the next few months and this includes engaging with the community, former residents as well as as former staff.
“We will make a decision once the due diligence is completed,” CEO Kable said.
“The plan now however, is that we would like to go ahead with the purchase.”
A green light to go ahead will see Cowra Retirement Village board members begin the process to recruit staff, residents, and set up of agreements such as food and linen to name a few.
Mr Kable said with a community-owned model, everything will be kept local.
“From a community perspective, it’s all positive. It means people won’t have to relocate to other communities such as Cootamundra and Young when they go into residential aged care,” he said.
“This means they can stay connected with their community, their friends and families.
“That’s the real benefit, besides the benefits of engaging with local employment, trades, food and other providers.”
He added that the board will be excited to attract employment from previous employees, those looking to make aged care their career choice, school leavers as well as opening up to traineeships.
Cowra Retirement Village board members have also made application to the Commonwealth Government for an allocation of 45 brand new licensed beds.
Mr Kable said there are no talks of purchasing or negotiations for the pre-existing beds, which are owned by Southern Cross Care.
Under the rebranded facility, which is still in talks for a name, it will offer both dementia and permanent respite accommodation for the Harden community.
Although things are still in its preliminary stages, Mr Kable said he is hopeful residents will be able to be admitted into the Harden facility, by the end of this year.
“There’s absolutely no reason why any of the former residents, could not come back to Harden if the facility reopens. We would welcome them back,” he said.
“It would mean everything [the re-opening]. The kids would be here, grandkids, great grandkids, they can come and see her [his wife who has now relocated],” Eric Kuhn said in a Prime 7 segment.
He added that he is “determined Harden-Murrumburrah will have its fair share of quality aged care services”.
“This is terrific news for the Harden-Murrumburrah community [the recommission news], particularly those families needing aged care services closer to home,” he said.
Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) has since welcomed the recommissioning development.
“Closing St Lawrence was an incredibly difficult position, particularly given the tight knit community of Harden,” CEO of Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) Helen Emmerson said in a media release.
“Since then, we have been open to working with organisations we could responsibly and legally transfer the site to.
“We’re committed to working closely with Cowra Retirement Village throughout their due diligence process and are encouraged by this positive development.
Christopher Tan
