Feds to spend $1m on our oldest residents in two towns

TWO aged care providers will be flush with cash after the government chipped in to pay for much-needed renovations.

JOKE TIME: Maranoa MP David Littleproud chats with Maurine Master and Carmel May about the needs of aged care residents at Southern Cross Aged Care Allora Homestead. Picture: Michael Nolan

AGED care providers in Allora and Killarney will receive almost $1million in federal funding.

About $480,000 will be spent widening doorways to provide better mobility access to 29 resident rooms at Southern Cross Aged Care Homestead Allora.

A further $438,000 will be spent upgrading 18 rooms in the dementia wing at Killarney Memorial Aged Care, and to install new fire sprinklers, air-conditioning and ventilation.

When the Southern Cross Aged Care Homestead opened in Allora in 1983 the average resident was aged in their 60s.

But SCAC director Francis Price said a greater focus of keeping the elderly in their own homes for as long as possible led to much older residents living at Homestead.

Mr Price said this put pressure on facilities designed for more mobile residents and the facilities were no longer adequate.

"The entire model for how aged care is delivered in rural communities has changed," he said.

Renovations are expected to take two years to complete.

Maranoa MP David Littleproud was at the centre yesterday to announce the funding.

"These guys will bring the rooms up to specification," Mr Littleproud said.

"There has not been investment in that for a while.

"It'll be easier on the residents and allow the staff to provide better care."

Mr Littleproud talked up the benefits of a vibrant aged care sector.

"I think residents get the best care in these small towns," he said.

"The staff know the residents because they are locals."

It is a sector he understands well, having spent part of his youth in the SCAC Illoura centre at Chinchilla.

"Friends of my parents ran the place, and when mum and dad were out of town for work I'd stay at there." Mr Littleproud said.

"I'd go to the common room every night and spend time with the residents, some of the older ladies would bring chocolate biscuits down.

"It was always a bit of treat to go and stay at Illoura.

"There was a lovely lady - Alice Bell - she'd look after me and we'd watch TV together every night."