Bundaleer plans new nursing home in Wauchope
Bundaleer CEO Gareth Norman, Operations Manager Helena Lawrie and Director of Nursing Stephen Reilly look at plans for the new home.
Wauchope’s Bundaleer Care Services has announced bold plans to rebuild the existing nursing home in Johnstone Street.
The facility is the original Bundaleer nursing home, and was built in 1978.
There are 55 beds and has been undergone a number of extensions over the years.
Bundaleer chief executive Gareth Norman says the building has reached the end of its life cycle and needs replacing.
“We are currently in the design phase. It will incorporate a unit specifically for dementia patients,” he said.
The number of beds hasn’t been determined though they hope to add 40 more and Bundaleer have bought a block of land beside the old home.
“We have asked the Federal Government, as part of the application round, for more beds to meet the demand of our community.”
People are living longer and they are coming into Bundaleer later in life. The Johnstone Street nursing home still has old four-bed wards, and the new facility will have single rooms and some for couples.
“We are excited about this new project and its impact on our community. It’s a unique site and it’s the first stage of creating a healthcare precinct across the generations,” added Mr Norman.