Multimillion-dollar upgrade planned for Western Downs nursing home
Chinchilla’s Illoura Village is set to undergo a major $35m upgrade that will provide more beds for the elderly residents and a specialised dementia unit - but only if funding can be secured.
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The Chinchilla communities’ most cherished community members at Illoura Village are set to benefit from a major $35m project that will create more beds and a specialised dementia unit.
But the major upgrade will only be possible if funding and support for the project can be secured.
Serving the Queensland community for 40 years by providing residential aged care, home care and retirement living services, Southern Cross Care Queensland announced their ambitious vision for the Illoura Village on Tuesday, May 18.
A Southern Cross Care Queensland spokeswoman said the nursing home had 66 aged care places located in two dwellings, but planned to increase that number to 81.
“Due to the age of the homes and need for increased care services SCCQ is currently undertaking a Master Plan process for the site which aims to rebuild the existing aged care into a contemporary, small house design… including a dedicated dementia-specific home that requires Federal Government support,” she said.
“We understand the importance of financial and social sustainability in all our planning as these community assets and services will serve beyond us to support future generations.
“Our belief is that we need a mix of housing products co-located with aged care, community services and education to best meet the needs of the whole community.”
To help tackle the issue of limited staffing in regional Queensland, the spokeswoman said SCCQ recently signed an memorandum of understanding with Southern Queensland Rural Health Professor Geoff Argus, to create an educational and community centre to grow and support a local workforce.
“We believe that this development could offer the region an innovative and sustainable model for the future aimed at creating jobs and keeping communities and families connected,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the multimillion-dollar upgrade required extensive collaboration with all levels of the government.
“(We) remain committed to supporting our regional and rural communities… to do so requires a significant investment in our regional and rural workforce,” she said.
The SCCQ will be hosting a community Town Hall meeting at the Chinchilla RSL Memorial Club on Thursday, July 22, at 10am to present the Master Plan and to gather ideas from the community.
To book, email or call Illoura Village aged care manager Lance Payne on 07 4662 7182 or email Lance.Payne@sccqld.com.au.
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