Quality apartments for aged care

Southern Cross Care St Michael's Apartments and Community Care, a modern facility to care for the community's elderly, has been officially opened.

WELCOMED: Mercy sister Juliana Dwyer RSM officially opened the Southern Cross St Michael’s Apartments & Community Care in Casino on Saturday. Picture: Doug Eaton

THE highly anticipated Southern Cross Care St Michael's Apartments and Community Care, a modern facility to care for the community's elderly, was officially opened on Saturday.

The facility, rebuilt to cater for the growing demands for quality residential aged care in Casino, was completed in late 2012 and officially unveiled by Mercy Sister, Sr Juliana Dwyer RSM.

The supported-living apartments feature 73 rooms with individual ensuites, large sitting and lounge areas, gardens and terraces, courtyard and expansive views and will incorporate not only residential care but day programs as well.

The $15 million facility took two and a half years to build, with the first 40 rooms operational since mid-2011.

More than 200 people turned out for the official opening of the facility and blessing by Bishop of Lismore, Most Rev Geoffrey Jarrett.

Area manager Leanne Doohan said she was proud to see the outcome of the redevelopment, a facility that she said would provide quality care.

"For many years we've dreamed, we've planned, and we've worked hard," she said.

Chief executive of Southern Cross Care NSW and ACT, Paul McMahon, said St Michael's was a great place to live and work and the new facility was a show of Southern Cross Care's long-term commitment to the community.

He said the facility would mean more beds, more jobs, and more opportunities for Casino.

He also noted the history of the site on which the new facility sits, where it used to be the Casino Friendly Societies Hospital and then a facility run by the Sisters of Mercy - some of whom were able to be at the ceremony.