Blue Care confirms Millbank Village to close down

An aged care provider closing down a Bundaberg facility has described it as a “planned, controlled and respectful closure” as it begins to relocate residents.

AGED CARE: Millbank Village will offically close its doors.

Blue Care has confirmed it will close its Millbank facility in Bundaberg, citing expensive renovations as one of the reasons for the decision.

The company began relocating Millbank Village residents from March 21 but said the “full closure” would not happen until they all had suitable accommodation.

Describing it as a “planned, controlled and respectful closure”, they said arrangements were also being made for the 48 staff members.

Blue Care, which is owned by Uniting Care, cited Covid-19 and ongoing pressures surrounding health care as contributing factors to the closure of the 40-resident facility.

“While disappointing for Blue Care, our people, residents and their families, we acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 on the aged care workforce as a whole and many regional towns in particular,” a spokesman said.

AGED CARE: Millbank Village has seen a reduction in capacity over the last five years.

“Our facility at Millbank is old and requires significant investment in refurbishment to bring it up to the standard required to accommodate the increasing acuity in residents entering residential aged care.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, these factors have impacted the financial viability of our site.”

They said relocation would be managed “case-by-case”, with considerations being made to those who want to move to other regions to be closer to family.

“Blue Care is committed to ensuring residents continue to be cared for and feel safe,” the spokesman said.

“We will continue to work with our residents, their families and carers, to ensure they find permanent alternatives based on their preferences and individual care needs.”

In 2017 three wings of the facility closed down which displaced 36 residents at the time.

The future of the O’Connell St building after the residents and staff have moved on remains unclear.