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 afternoon the Board and Management of the Cowra Retirement Village announced they have plans to recommission the former St Lawrence Residential Aged Facility in Harden.
Unlike the privately-owned Southern Cross Care, Cowra Retirement Village is a community-owned asset.
It has been in operation for 33 years, currently employing more than 130 staff, and operates a residential aged care facility, seniors living and community based services at the Cowra facility, some 114km away.
The non-for-profit Cowra Retirement Village Board Chair Ian Donges said the proposed recommissioning of the Harden facility is an “exciting opportunity”.
“Over the coming weeks we will be engaging with the Harden Murrumburrah Regional Development Corporation and the community at all levels to start building a relationship of co-operation and mutual respect,” he said in a media release.
Questions will now be asked if the public are satisfied with the outcome, and if the more than 30 residents who were previously stranded to find new accomodation, would return.
More questions will be raised if the recommissioning is a success, especially since Southern Cross Care forced the closure due to a “low demands for beds”.
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.
The announcement comes timely, just days after the Federal Government’s $17.7 billion splash on aged care, and the amount is described by Mr McCormack MP as a “once-in-a-generation reform” in his media release earlier this morning.
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, particularly those families needing aged care services closer to home,” he said in his media release.
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.
“We’re committed to working closely with Cowra Retirement Village to ensure a smooth transition.”
There will be more updates to follow in The Times print, including what is included in the transition process as well as what will happen to the existing beds at the facility.
Christopher Tan
