MercyCare is a not-for-profit Catholic provider of aged care, family, health, disability and community services. The agency also provides care in the home and retirement living opportunities. Photo: Supplied.
The City of Gosnells has given the go-ahead to a new $20 million aged care home to be developed and operated by MercyCare on its existing site in Maddington Road, Maddington.
The new 123-bed residential aged care home will have specialist accommodation and services for people with dementia and will also focus on providing aged care support for war veterans – all spread over four, two-storey wings with open, generously landscaped courtyards in-between.
City of Gosnells Mayor Glenn Dewhurst said it was important that, as its community ages, people had an opportunity to grow old in their neighbourhood.
“Maddington, being one of our older suburbs, is undergoing significant change and this development fits well with the area’s changing landscape and the community’s changing needs,” Mayor Dewhurst added.
David Holden, MercyCare Interim Chief Executive, said the support from the City of Gosnells was a terrific vote of confidence in MercyCare and its future in the area as an important provider of aged care services.
“The new buildings will be purpose-built with sleek, modern architectural features but, importantly, will maintain a very homely feel for residents,” Mr Holden explained.
“The rooms will be warm and friendly with windows that open for fresh air and garden areas with barbecues, citrus trees and vegetable and herb gardens.
“We hope this new development is a real community focal point and that, as well as friends and family of residents, we can attract community groups and a wide variety of activities and visitors to use and enjoy a new ‘town square’ located near the entrance,” he added.
The approved MercyCare development includes a two-storey residential aged and dementia care facility with 123 rooms – including 15 for specialised dementia care – dining and lounge areas, service areas, nurse stations, a consulting room, a hairdressing salon for residents, roof terrace, active gardens, and associated landscaping.
An artist’s impression of MercyCare residential aged care home in Maddington. Photo: Supplied.
The facility will offer quality care and boost local employment opportunities with potential for around 60 jobs in hospitality, aged care, maintenance, consultancy and health administration services – a great addition to the already active employment area on the opposite side of Maddington Rd.
MercyCare’s new Maddington development will replace the much smaller, existing facility and the very first residents to move in will be those who are already living with MercyCare on the Maddington Rd site.
Construction of the new development could begin as early as mid-2019, with the first residents potentially joining new “neighbours” in the brand new home in mid-2021.
In the meantime, construction of a new road required for the development as an important connector road, is expected to be built in the new year.
MercyCare has also made an application to the Federal Government’s Aged Care Approval Round for additional licences to operate the expanded aged care home.
The Maddington residential aged care development is being project managed by OP Properties, working with the award-winning design team of GroupGSA Architects and MKDC Interior Designers, and with landscape design from Plan E.