Glen Eira Council to continue operating aged care facilities

Glen Eira Council came under fire for a plan to sell off its three aged care facilities but they’ve now walked away from deal negotiations after the bid failed to attract appropriate buyers.

Glen Eira Council has walked away from a sell-off of its aged care facilities.

Glen Eira Council has walked away from negotiations to sell off its aged care facilities after potential buyers failed to meet “tight criteria”.

Councillors in February voted in favour of selling off Rosstown in Carnegie, Spurway in Murrumbeena and Warrawee in Bentleigh East but the move was blasted by residents who feared their elderly parents’ rights and safety would be threatened by the changes.

Mayor Margaret Esakoff this week confirmed the council would continue to operate the three centres.

“We always said that we would only sell to an aged care provider that met our high standards and if the process did not identify a quality provider, we would not sell,” she said.

“Having not received an offer that met our tight criteria, there will not be a sale at this time.”

Glen Eira is the last Victorian council to operate residential aged care services.

Cr Esakoff said protecting current and future aged care residents had been “and always will be” a priority.

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“Not selling at this time in no way reflects the quality of care we provide, rather there were a number of contributing factors, including the Royal Commission creating uncertainty in the market, the age and level of amenities provided in our older facilities and reduced demand for aged care beds in Glen Eira,” she said.

Cr Esakoff said the Royal Commission, which has been extended due to overwhelming response, had identified issues across the sector and “like all aged care providers (the council) will need to make changes” in the future.

“We recognise the past year has not always been easy and appreciate the support and patience of residents, their family members and staff,” she said.