Bundaberg residential aged care home receives $19m upgrade

A Bundaberg aged care facility will officially open the doors to its multimillion-dollar upgrades next week, with 36 new beds and 144 jobs to benefit the region.

Residents celebrate the completion of a $19 million redevelopment at Meilene Residential Aged Care Home in Bundaberg.

The Meilene Residential Aged Care Home in Bundaberg will officially unveil the completion of a $19 million redevelopment on Tuesday.

The redevelopment, completed by Hutchinson Builders, will create up to 144 new jobs for the region and house 36 new residents.

Accommodation and community areas also received an upgrade, as did the communal grounds.

Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke said the redevelopment would aid the region’s ageing population and be a lifeline to those with chronic illnesses.

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“We know that Bundaberg has an ageing population as well as a higher proportion of people with chronic health conditions including dementia, compared to the rest of Queensland,” she said.

“With that, brings an increased demand for aged care services.”

All accommodation areas received an extension, which took the home from 52 single ensuite rooms to 88, and the memory support unity from 16 to 24 rooms.

“The redevelopment has added a further sense of community for our residents and visitors by improving access and connectivity,” Mrs Cooke said.

“We have also invested in significant refurbishments throughout the entire home to create a modern, comfortable and quality residential environment.”

The redevelopment was completed over six stages, with improvements made to multipurpose facilities to allow residents and guests to celebrate special events comfortably.

Other improvements and additions included a self-serve cafe and lounge area for visitors that opens onto an outdoor area alongside an outdoor childrens play area, an upgraded community area and a multimedia and library area.

Improvements were also made to improve the quality of life of existing residents including fresh furnishing, individual air-conditioning in every room and improved carparking.

Right Reverend Cameron Venables will formally bless the new developments and the redevelopments on Tuesday as part of the opening ceremony.