Kindred Living, which is closing one of its four aged care homes in the SA town of Whyalla is looking to sell its entire operation.
The Not For Profit organisation, founded as Whyalla Senior Citizens Welfare Association in 1968 and changed its name from Whyalla Aged Care in December 2019, told residents and staff it was closing Annie Lockwood Court on 30 July last month in a decision made with the Department of Health.
The home will be closed on 27 August, or when all 37 residents have found a new place to live. Nineteen residents have found alternative accommodation to date.
Last week, two more Kindred Living aged care homes were found to be non-compliant by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC).
“I’m aware that there are discussions between Kindred Living and another party with respect to the possible sale of the service,” Federal Aged Care Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck said in Senate Question Time last week.
Kindred Living CEO Juanita Walker said the sale plans had been ongoing since October 2020, when there was a major outbreak of unexplained scabies outbreak on residents at Annie Lockwood Court Hostel.
“The closure does not affect Kindred Living’s other facilities and services in Whyalla – Copperhouse Court Hostel, Yeltana Nursing Home, Independent Retirement Living Units and Home Care Services,” said Ms Walker.
“We are confident that improvements implemented at Kindred Living’s other two residential facilities in Whyalla address previous non-compliance concerns. Yeltana Nursing Home was reviewed by the Quality and Safety Commission this week and no concerns were raised.”
Kindred Living in its 2019-2020 annual report revealed an annual loss of almost $70,000, leaving a balance of $13,600.
Ms Walker said Kindred Living was struggling amid an “increasing regulatory environment, a lack of funding and chronic workforce shortages”.
