THE Andrews Government has pledged up to $45 million to redevelop the 16-bed public aged care home in Cohuna if re-elected in next month’s state election.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the redevelopment, including a new eight-bed medical ward, while opening a new aged care home in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs last Wednesday.
Mr Andrews and Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Colin Brooks said the Cohuna rebuild would be part a $170 million policy to redevelop three public aged care homes in regional Victoria, including at Numurkah, north of Shepparton, and Maffra in Gippsland.
Work would begin on the facilities by 2025 and residents would start moving into the refurbished buildings from late 2027.
“Victorians in aged care deserve to spend their golden years close to family and friends, in the communities they know and love, receiving the very best of care,” Mr Andrews said.
“Labor is doing what matters – ensuring our parents and grandparents continue to receive the care and dignity they deserve in their later years.”
Cohuna District Hospital had limited details, other than what was announced.
Chief executive Bernadette Loughnane told the Gannawarra Times the announcement comes after the Commonwealth Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Assessment confirmed the aged care service was fully accredited and met all requirements.
“When you are 100 per cent accredited with the Aged Care Commission, it is the highest recognition you can get, and it sends a powerful message to residents that they are a priority and their needs are being met,” Ms Loughnane said.
“We are keen to have that whole type facility for our residents so it’s an environment that is conducive to healthy ageing.”
Ms Loughnane welcomed the commitment and said the board would work with any government of the day to see the project realised.
“The board has been advocating for this redevelopment and it’s certainly outlined in the strategic plan launched in 2021,” she said.
“Census data tells us this is the direction rural areas are heading in.”
The strategic plan’s third priority is to “design care environments that support safe, high quality healthcare”.
That includes the development of a masterplan to “support flexible service delivery to meet community needs now and into the future”.
In 1983, a community appeal raised funds for a nursing home. A 14-bed nursing home wing was build adjacent to the hospital and opened in 1985.
A further two beds were added in 1994.
According to the hospital, Cohuna’s aged community has a higher than state average of people aged over 65 years – 29.3 per cent compared to 15.6 per cent.
In the next decade, it forecasts a 15 per cent reduction in population aged between 18-65; a 10 per cent increase in those over 70 years and 40 per cent of the population will be over 70 years.
The Opposition criticised the Premier for making the announcement from Melbourne.
Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell said the Premier should have visited the region to make the announcement.
“The fact the Premier announces a regional health policy via a press conference in Melbourne’s east proves he doesn’t care about regional Victorians,” she said.
Mr Brooks said the funding reflected the government’s commitment to aged care.
“The last time Matthew Guy’s Liberals were in government, they shut and privatised nursing homes, cut millions from the aged care budget and slashed the number of beds available to older Victorians,” he said.
“Labor undid the Liberals’ damage by introducing nurse-to-resident ratios and investing more than $600 million in new and improved aged care facilities because only Labor can be trusted to do what matters.”
