The passion that drives private aged care village operators on display

We had the honour last week of touring the Abolakian family’s first retirement village. Extraordinary.

Hyegrove Willoughby is in a class of its own in its concept, quality design and execution. The materials, the planned spaces, the offering to residents.

Others on the tour were taken by the cash that had been invested into every corner, thinking of the payback required.

And here is where the Abolakian family came into their own. They see Hyegrove as a lifetime commitment, so the quality they have built in has a lifetime to repay them.

Hyegrove comprises of 111 apartments plus a big allocation of 42 care suites, offering private aged care, both Support at Home Package funded and fee-for-service care, all operating under the Retirement Village Act. 

The apartments are now occupied and the care suites will open on Wednesday, 8 April. To ensure the care suites will function to expectation, the Abolakian family slept over last weekend to road test every aspect. How many owners do that?

Patrick Abolakian (pictured above) has led the creation of Hyegrove over 10-plus years. He made the quote of the day:

“I am acutely aware that I am opening a 24/7 business and I will be responsible for it for the rest of my life.”

That is commitment.

This passion appears to be the hallmark of founders of private aged care.

If you look at Paul Browne at LDK Seniors’ Living (Sydney and Canberra), Phil Usher at Odyssey Lifestyle Care Communities (the Gold Coast) and John Frame (The Grandton in Perth), and now the Abolakian family in Sydney, all are 110% personally committed to delivering extraordinary experiences for their residents, personally.

As we frequently discuss, we are confident all villages will be in the private aged care business within five years. Will the operators have the same passion as the early founders?

Watch this space.