Changing needs of boomers to shape aged living

FUTURE SUNSHINE COAST: Amenity to young boomers and Gen-Xers will be key.

BUSY: Sundale CEO Danielle Mackenzie has plenty to think about. Picture: Patrick Woods

PROVIDING amenity to young baby boomers and Gen-Xers while trying to solve the issue of older, single women homelessness means Sundale has a hectic future.

CEO Danielle Mackenzie said the younger baby boomers and Gen-Xers, now in their 50s, wanted amenity to suit their changing needs and future-proof technology.

The changes meant Sundale had been looking at the future of independent living and aged care with renewed focus, to ensure it could cater for the community's needs for "decades to come”.

The not-for-profit elder care services organisation is currently building a new site at Tewantin with 80 independent living units and a 60-bed care facility, as well as undergoing a major redevelopment of Sundale's original Nambour site over the next decade.

That redevelopment will provide 600 additional homes to those in need.

"Sundale is also championing an innovative solution to older, single women homelessness on the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Mackenzie said.

"The Better Together Housing Project is helping independent women 55 years of age and above find shared accommodation on the Sunshine Coast.”

She said the new facilities at Nambour and Tewantin would incorporate design elements catering to the changing needs of their customers.

"In addition to remarkable design and amazing care, technology will also be at the forefront of Sundale's new facilities,” she said.

"With the population living longer, technology is and will continue to help the elderly remain independent for longer.”

Legislative changes are also changing the future of the aged care industry.

She said Sundale had recently unveiled a new structure, to complement the Single Aged Care Quality Framework and Standards which would come into force later this year.

"The new standards mandate a shift away from traditional models of care and will allow Sundale to transform its organisational processes to prioritise and demonstrate quality of life and quality of care,” Ms Mackenzie said.

She said the organisation would continually assess its practices and procedures to ensure the needs of residents were met.

"Caring for older Australians is an issue of national importance and is too important not to get right,” she said.

"In the shorter term Sundale will be replacing or updating assets, refurbishing facilities and reinvesting in staff so the ever-changing and diverse needs of residents are met.”

Maintaining different demographics within Sundale communities is also important.

"Cultural and demographic diversity is essential because it exposes residents and Sundale employees to new ideas and to different ways of thinking and reaching decisions,” Ms Mackenzie said.

"A diverse community also allows residents and staff to expand their knowledge base and promotes tolerance.”