Yackandandah Health’s double-storey building with 16 residential aged-care rooms upstairs and 10 apartments for individuals or couples downstairs, will be officially opened at 10am on Saturday, 10 November.
Yackandandah Health CEO, Annette Nuck said, as part of the health service’s progressive approach to aged care, known as the Yackandandah Model, the new building is one of several innovative projects it is undertaking to meet community health needs.
“We are leading the way with a move to intergenerational care. The new building is the first step as the apartments are not specifically for older people. Someone who is younger and looking for one-bedroom accommodation in Yackandandah can apply,” Ms Nuck said.
“We are also working toward the opening of a new childcare centre on our site at the start of 2019 and recently received funding for a Care Sanctuary, which connects people to animals and the land. This will be for the whole community,” she said.
Ms Nuck said they had started planning three years ago to meet the changing demands for aged and health care in the community.
“The demand for a variety of options to suit people’s different needs as they age is just continuing to grow,” she said.
To mark the opening of the building and the increasing community involvement, Yackandandah Health, has organised two days of celebrations.
“We have Dr Jane Barratt from the International Federation on Ageing in Canada coming to start the community conversation about how people want to age on Friday, 9 November. Tickets are available for those who want to hear what’s happening globally,” she said.
On Saturday, 10 November Yackandandah Health will host a Community Celebration from 9am to 2.30pm, with the building opening at 10am. There will be something for every age-group including music, entertainment, health and wellbeing talks, displays and food. That night there will be an encore performance of Living Memory.
The new building was designed by JWP Architects from Wodonga and built by Joss Constructions.
It incorporates many passive design principles, including solar gain, proper orientation and natural ventilation.
“This was important to us as it fits with our innovation focus and our 2016 investment in a 90kW solar system,” Ms Nuck said.