The Not For Profit announced today that the 36 residents being accommodated at St Mary’s Villa aged care home will now be cared for at its nearby purpose-built Holy Spirit home and in other residential aged care homes in the area and elsewhere.

At least 10 aged care homes have closed in regional Australia over the past year, resulting in a loss of nearly 300 beds.

Catholic Healthcare Acting Chief Executive Officer Josh McFarlane said the decision was unavoidable.

“This has been a difficult decision but a responsible one. Prior to belonging to Catholic Healthcare, the St Mary’s Villa building was used as a men’s refuge. St Mary’s Village is just not a suitable building for higher acuity residents and will not be able to meet the future care needs of the Dubbo community,” he said.

“The rooms are not designed for infrastructure like mechanical lifters which we need to support our residents with high care and specialist dementia care needs. When residents don’t have the appropriate amenities in aged care, they are more likely to be transferred to hospital, which of course places additional pressure on the health system.

“By contrast our other Dubbo home, Holy Spirit, has large single rooms with ensuites, more useable outdoors spaces, and a specialist dementia unit. We’re deploying extra staff to St Mary's Villa to support a smooth transition for residents.”

Catholic Healthcare operates 42 residential aged care homes, 13 retirement living communities, and provides services to around 4,000 people in the community.