Rockhampton Aged Care Re-Development Officially Opened

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PDF printable version of Rockhampton Aged Care Re-Development Officially Opened (PDF 19 KB)

29 April 2009

The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot was joined by the Federal Member for Capricornia, Ms Kirsten Livermore to officially open the $7.5 million re-development of the Rockhampton ‘Benevolent Aged Care' home.

The Australian Government provided $2.85 million of the construction to help build the home’s four new wings, which house extra rooms, private balconies, communal areas, administration, reception area and a coffee shop.

Included in the redevelopment are two wings designed for secure dementia care.

This latest redevelopment has taken about five years to construct and has employed hundreds of people from the Rockhampton area. The aged care service continues to offer employment for more than 100 people.

The Rockhampton Benevolent Homes Society provides 115 residential aged care places.

These places are part of the 1,143 existing aged care places in the electorate of Capricornia, provided by 19 aged care homes. In addition, there more than 220 community care packages - helping older people in the region remain independent in their own homes.

The Rockhampton Benevolent Homes Society has a proud history of caring for less fortunate and older people in the area which stretches back to the 1860s when they provided emergency relief to impoverished people.

“I congratulate the staff and volunteers for their hard work in the development and completion of this project,” Mrs Elliot said.

“I would like to officially welcome all of the residents to their newly redeveloped home,” Mrs Elliot said.

In addition to the $2.85 million in capital works funding for the redevelopment, the Australian Government also provides more than $4.6 million in aged care subsidies to Benevolent Aged Care each year.

Ms Livermore said: “Almost a quarter of Rockhampton’s population is aged 55 years and over and it is wonderful to see an expansion like Benevolent Aged Care home taking place in our region.”

“Rockhampton like many parts of Australia is facing the challenges of an ageing population,” Ms Livermore said.

“The Rudd Government is planning for the future and expanding existing services in both residential and community care,” Ms Livermore said.

Over the next four years, funding for aged and community care would reach record levels of more than $41 billion – with $29.4 billion of that on nursing homes and hostels alone.

“The Federal Government’s financial support for Queensland aged care providers will total $7.4 billion over the next four years,” Mrs Elliot said.

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on 02 6277 7280