Percy Baxter lodges residents voice concern

Residents of a North Geelong aged care facility with an uncertain future are concerned they could be forced to find new homes.

Graham Rawlins is a longtime resident of Percy Baxter lodges.

Residents of a North Geelong aged care facility with an uncertain future are concerned they could be forced to find new homes.

The Geelong Advertiser recently revealed Percy Baxter lodges, located at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre site in North Geelong, were running at a fraction of capacity with just 15 residents.

Graham Rawlins, 74, has lived at the facility for more than three years and said last year, residents were told Percy Baxter lodges were closing down.

“Upon being pressured for a timeline the response we got was … there’s no timeline,” he said.

“This is our home, they’re dealing with our home and our livelihood.”

He said residents were concerned by the prospect of having to find somewhere else to live.

“We want to live here, we don’t want to move,” he said.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in March said amenities at Percy Baxter lodges were dated and impacted by recent flooding.

The Barwon Health facility has been called dated.

The union said it understood a refurbishment might not be deemed to be a cost-effective use of taxpayer money.

It said Barwon Health had confirmed to ANMF it had made a submission for state government funding to rebuild and expand the facility.

Percy Baxter lodges provide care to elderly people with low needs.

Mr Rawlins said of the five lodges, only one currently housed residents.

Barwon Health has gradually closed and converted lodges in recent years, and one was

was damaged in floods earlier this year, he said.

Mr Rawlins called for consultation regarding any new facility.

He said the existing buildings were “very serviceable” but there were essential works needed.

Graham Rawlins, Hugh Todd and Barry Watts.

Fellow resident Hugh Todd, 70, said the uncertainty was “not ideal”.

“It’s just an uncertain period and you’d like to know so you can make future plans,” he said.

He said he was a bit concerned about residents potentially having to move out and wanted more information about the facility’s future.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said it continued to care for 15 residents at Percy Baxter lodges.

“One of the Percy Baxter lodge hostels was damaged in floods earlier this year and as a result six residents from that hostel have been transferred to another,” she said.

“We are working closely with the Department of Health on the infrastructure issues at Percy Baxter lodges.”

Mr Rawlins said he was scheduled to meet with local MPs Ella George and Christine Couzens to discuss the issue.

A state government spokeswoman said it was working closely with Barwon Health to understand the impacts of significant flooding to parts of the site earlier this year.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that all aged care residents receive the accommodation and support they need,” she said.

Originally published as Percy Baxter lodges residents voice concern