At least three Sydney aged care homes have closed in the last few months – and the Department of Health and Aged Care has pointed to a range of factors as the likely cause.
A spokesperson for the Department said: “In metropolitan regions, the most common reason for closure is outdated buildings, with almost 50% of all closures attributed to this.
“A further 35% of all MMM 1 (metropolitan) closures is due to either financial viability or provider consolidation/other business decisions.
“In regional and rural areas, over two-thirds of closures is due to financial viability, staffing shortages or outdated buildings.”
These statistics are based on data collected since 1 July 2021.
- Three homes that have closed are:
St George Aged Care Centre, in the south Sydney suburb of Bexley, which closed on 9 December 2022.
A statement from the Department of Health said, “Following regulatory compliance action taken by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the approved provider appointed Cor Cordis as Voluntary Administrators who subsequently gave notice to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on 10 November 2022 that the service would be going into administration.”
St George also provides disability care though Alloa House and Griffin House.
- According to the regulator’s website, Regis Belmore, in Sydney’s west, closed its doors on Christmas Eve last year.
We contacted Regis’s communications team but did not receive a response.
- New Horizons Aged Care Facility in the north west Sydney suburb of North Ryde is scheduled to close on 6 April 2023. New Horizons is operated by approved provider, New Horizons Enterprises Limited.
“The decision to close was driven by declining occupancy and workforce shortages,” the Department told us.
While aged care homes that are no longer fit for purpose are closing, there are also homes being built in Sydney – see Opal’s massive expansion plans in western Sydney.
