“In the shadow of Oakden, the Marshall Liberal Government made a clear commitment to develop the best possible care for people living with extreme symptoms of dementia,” says SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, on the units opening.
The move comes as a part of the State Government’s reactivation of the Repat Health Precinct, after the Government-owned and operated Oakden Aged Mental Health facility was shut down in 2017 following allegations of resident mistreatment.
As we reported here, Oakden is considered by many to be ‘ground zero’ of the Royal Commission, and its closure left a hole in the state’s mental health services for seniors.
Minister Wade says the specialised Repat Neuro Behavioural Unit (NBU) is a big milestone as part of the state’s $110 million investment in the site.
“The facility has been designed in partnership with people with lived experience of dementia, including families of former Oakden residents as well as carers of people living with dementia. Together we are improving services for residents with dementia and their loved ones.”
Recruitment and training of the first tranche of specialised staff is complete, with patients from across the state to be supported to transition to the facility in a staged process with up to six expected to move into the facility in coming weeks.
