$40m aged care facility opens in Toowoomba

MORE than 20 residents are preparing to move into the custom built $40mil Ozcare Toowoomba Aged Care Facility that opens today.

The state of the art Ozcare Aged Care Facility has opened today.

MORE than 20 residents are preparing to move into the custom built $40 million Ozcare Toowoomba Aged Care Facility that opens today.

The Greenwattle St facility boasts 150 beds, extensive grounds and gardens, a public coffee shop and intimate lounges and dining areas for family and residents.

 "Older people want aged care facilities to have a relaxed, home-like feel - it's their home. It's no longer a demise to come into residential aged care - people come in to live life," Ozcare's Head of Aged Care Lanna Ramsay said.

"I think the building is great, it's nice and big. Every bedroom is a single ensuite with table and chairs and then we have other common areas scattered along the wings.

"It's taken 18 months since the first turn of the soil and in the meantime we have been placing the finishing touches."

Ms Ramsay said Ozcare's focus was on keeping people well and agile and bringing meaning and purpose to their lives when they could no longer stay at home.

 "They are encouraged and supported to keep participating in things they like to do, both inside and outside of the facility," Ms Ramsay said.

 "We are very keen to have intergenerational activities as part of everyday life such as forming relationships with local child care centres and schools where kids come in and perform concerts and read.

 "With these relationships we will also go out to local childcare centres and schools and get involved in their activities such as art and craft. Some of our facilities are even forming relationships with other aged care facilities in Japan and UK using Skype and other technology. "

The facility is also bringing jobs to the region, requiring a staff of 130+ people. Ms Ramsay said training of a round of recruits had started a fortnight ago. 

Features:

- 150-bed facility

- Two secure dementia wings (15 beds each)

- Residential respite care for people needing short-term care

- Retirement village to be built next door (co-located for continuum of care).

Address: 631-651 Greenwattle Street, Glenvale.

For more information, go to ozcare.org.au/ or phone [phone].

Originally published as $40m aged care facility opens in Toowoomba