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Aged Care

Aged Care accommodation projects carried out by Garry Coff Consulting Services include Concept Designs for extensions and upgrading of a number of Commonwealth funded Residential Aged Care Services and the development of Independent Living Units within South Australia including:

  • Umoona Aged Care Aboriginal Corporation, Coober Pedy.
  • Ceduna Multi Purpose Centre, Ceduna.
  • Mid Murray Homes for the Aged, Mannum.
  • Pioneer Lodge Hostel, Waikerie.
  • Bonney Lodge Hostel, Barmera.
  • Jallarah Homes, Meningie.
  • Aminya Village, Mannum.
  • Yankalilla Council, Yankalilla.

Project experience includes master planning for upgrade and expansion of Aged Care Services facilities including:

  • Assisting the NSW Government in the development of a Systemized Multi Purpose Services approach to the conversion of remote rural Hospitals to be better able to provide Commonwealth Aged Care residential accommodation within small rural settings.
  • Concept Planning and design for conversion of the 15-bed Lockhardt Hospital to develop as a Multi-Purpose Service Facility to naccommodate 15 High Care Nursing Home residents, with a discreet 5-bed Acute Care service and an Accident & Emergency facility capable of managing resuscitation and stabilization for retrieval to Wagga Wagga Hospital.
  • Master Planning and site analysis for Hospital, Nursing Home and Hostel operations on site culminating in a 25 bed extension to the existing 30 bed High Level Aged Care Facility at Strathalbyn.  The project incorporated expansion of Lounge, Dining and activity areas for new and existing residents and includes a specialist Dementia Care Zone to assist in the management of difficult residents.  The project was completed in mid 2003 at a cost of $ 2.9 million.
  • Planning and Commonwealth Government application for a 19-bed expansion of the then 11 bed Low Care Facility at Mannum.  The new facility provides extensive day and activity areas for all 30 of the residents.  The project was completed in early 2004 at a cost of $1.4 million. 
  • Planning and application to the Commonwealth Government for increased beds for Karingal Nursing Home and The Vales Aged Care Facility for Pahuja Nominees.

Hills Mallee Southern Regional Health Service Inc. – Aged Care Accommodation Project.

Garry Coff Consulting Services was appointed to conduct a Study to develop methods of providing quality Aged Care Services within remote communities and to explore ways to improve viability within small rural health units (Strategic Capital Planning Study: Development of Aged Care Services and Accommodation Profiles within Country Hospitals [February, 1996]). The study was carried out over a six month period and entailed extensive consultation with health unit executives and Board representatives to explain the purpose of the study and to obtain input regarding the local community.  Facilities were inspected to review current services and update building plans to show recent changes and utilisation patterns at the facilities.

The project was driven by the need for high quality aged care services which could be provided locally and would also improve the viability of small rural health units.  It was accepted that all country health units located within communities without Commonwealth funded facilities should be reviewed to determine their potential for inclusion within the development of models of service.  The focus of the study therefore extended to 33 health units within the 7 regions as defined by the SA Health Commission.  It was determined the 33 health units provided 366 nursing home places and were capable of being redeveloped to meet the projected need for an additional 127 nursing home places at a reasonable cost.

Following extensive consultation with the Regional Health Service Boards and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services it was resolved that the project should be prioritised into three phases which were commensurate with the priority of allocation of aged care places for South Australia i.e. 20 places per annum for three years commencing in the Hills Mallee Southern Region in 1997/1998.

The pilot project objective was to establish Commonwealth aged care services within existing acute care health units within the Hills Mallee Southern Region of South Australia.  The project included the addition of 39 Commonwealth funded places to be established within 6 health units (which originally had 42 aged care places funded by the SA Health Commission) achieving a total upgrading addition of 81 aged care places.

This was achieved by implementing training and management policies and carrying out building alterations which support the standards as developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services.  The end result of the project is that there is high quality aged care services available locally that has both improved the viability of small rural health units and generated positive attitudes to health care within the Hospitals.

Kapunda Hostel Expansion

Garry Coff assisted the Hospital and Hostel Boards and Executive in the development of proposals for additions to the complex to increase the Hostel by 5 places to 25 beds.

The project objective was to improve facilities so that the facility could better accommodate high-care residents and to establish an area for the safe management of dementia residents.

The project was completed in early 2000 and was budgeted at $ 900,000.