The Not For Profit has held a sod turning ceremony to mark the start of building a new 90-bed aged care home, Mercy Haven, next to its existing 45-year-old Bethany residential aged care building at The Range in Rockhampton, 636km northwest of Brisbane.
Mercy Community CEO Fritha Radyk said residents and staff had been waiting for many years for the new building, which had faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and construction cost increases.
“The existing Bethany building has been around for a long time and while our team provides amazing care, it’s an old-fashioned model and we want a new facility that meets current standards for our very special residents,” she said.
The three-storey Mercy Haven will cost $42 million, which includes an $18 million contribution from the Federal Government, and will replace the 70-bed Bethany facility.
Construction on the new building will begin next month, with construction expected to be completed in late 2024 with residents moving in early in 2025.
The SOURCE: The maximum lifespan for an aged care home is around 30 years so this update is well overdue.
