- Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers
Melbourne Health’s residential aged care services are getting a makeover with more dementia-friendly spaces and outdoor areas, thanks to funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan today announced $1 million in funding for Melbourne Health from the Labor Government’s Significant Facility Refurbishment Initiative, which is funding $9.5 million in upgrades for public sector residential aged care services across Victoria.
Melbourne Health’s Boyne Russell House, McLellan House Hostel and Merv Irvine Nursing ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ are each receiving $300,000 to create dementia-friendly gardens and outdoor living areas, enhancing wellbeing, health and enjoyment for residents.
Boyne Russell House is also upgrading its dining and activity room and Melbourne Health’s Cyril Jewell House is receiving more than $173,000 to redesign its garden to be more dementia-friendly.
This investment builds on the $2.3 million in refurbishment grants for the four services since 2015, providing upgrades to bathrooms, bedrooms and other areas, as well as providing equipment and training for staff.
Victoria has the largest public residential aged care sector in Australia. These services play a vital role providing care in many regional and rural communities where there are no other services, and for Victoria’s most vulnerable older people with complex physical or mental health needs.
The Labor Government is making record investments in aged care, including $81.6 million for a new 120-bed public residential aged care service in Wantirna, a new $55.57 million 90-bed state-of-the-art aged care facility in Kew and $27.75 million to support multicultural aged care.
As stated by Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan
“We’re modernising and upgrading public residential aged care right across Victoria, giving older Victorians the facilities and care they deserve.”
“These grants will help Melbourne Health deliver more dementia-friendly spaces, enriching the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable aged care residents.”
As noted by Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll
“I’m proud to say that we are delivering grants to improve the quality of life for aged care residents in Keilor East, particularly those living with dementia, through facility upgrades using dementia-friendly design.”
