Siteworks are well and truly underway for the upgrade of the Strathalbyn Aged Care Facility, located roughly 55km southeast of Adelaide.
The $11.4 million expansion will see 36 new beds, including a 24-bed open ward and a 12-bed memory support unit. July 2021 has been earmarked as a reopening date.
Member for Heysen Josh Teague told Adelaide Now he hoped the redevelopment would set an example as to how aged care should be delivered in the region.
“Regional hospitals, typically, become de facto aged-care centres because there’s not sufficient investment going into setting up specific aged care facilities,” Mr Teague said.
“So (hospitals) become increasingly occupied in regions that ought to have better facilities and that’s adding pressure to the system.”
“I certainly hope that Strathalbyn will serve as an example of what can be done at regional hospitals, with appropriate funding, especially in the service of care delivered.”
Pressure to deliver more aged care options in the region dates back to March 2017, when the local Kalimna Hostel aged care was shut down after being found non-compliant with fire safety regulations.
