ECH, the Not For Profit charity provider of integrated retirement living accommodation and ageing home care services, has opened the ECH Care Hotel in Walkerville, about 4km north east of Adelaide’s CBD, aimed at providing a range of ground-breaking solutions for short term care and respite needs.

Described as ‘a first of its kind in Australia’, ‘Dandelion’ has 16 suites providing individual care and short-term accommodation, with allied health, respite and social support services also provided.

Eight suites within the ECH Care Hotel are available as short stay accommodation for older people who are transitioning from hospital and may require more frequent care than they can receive at home. The other eight suites are available for people requiring respite, such as carers.

“‘Dandelion’ is a proof of concept specifically designed to challenge the current limitations in existing care models, minimise hospital visits and to empower and treat people as individuals,” said ECH CEO Dr David Panter.

“There is a great need to move away from the current ‘one size fits all’ thinking in relation to care giving and allow people to have the power to make their own choices in relation to their overall health and wellbeing.”

“This proof-of-concept will help determine the long-term viability of this model of care and allow ECH to make any necessary adjustments before offering this service to a much larger cross section of the community.”