The next stage of the evolving Scone aged care era will start to take place next month.
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After awarding a contract to Paynter Dixon Constructions, work will start after Easter to construct the brand new Strathearn House on Gundy Road, Scone.
The aged care facility will be built near the already existing retirement village villas that were officially opened by the leading aged care provider last year.
This significant step for the organisation is one of the largest projects that has been carried out on a community level in the region in recent years.
Valued at more than $20 million for stage one alone, the project is a significant development for Scone and the broader Upper Hunter Shire community.
Strathearn chief executive officer Matthew Downie said after the official acquisition of the Gundy Road site three years ago, it is exciting and significant to start the build of Strathearn House, which is the next logical step in the site’s ongoing development.
The first stage of the project includes an aged care facility with four wings comprising a total of 68 beds.
Mr Downie said Strathearn House is designed around the ‘house’ model of care, with the facility broken down into ‘house’ modules, each ‘house’ with approximately 16 bedrooms and each with its own living space, kitchen, dining, sitting rooms and gardens or terraces.
“The houses, while separate, will still be linked under one roof to allow the facility to operate with the same efficiencies of a large facility, but move towards a much more intimate level of care for the residents.
“Each house will have its own private entry and core group of staff, which will facilitate a much more personal focused care model,” he said.
“Our initial focus upon opening the facility will be to deliver an environment much more suited to those suffering from dementia, and indeed the whole facility is based around this ‘house’ model of care, which is not only dementia friendly, but also the best of design for age friendly.”
Mr Downie said the organisation also views the project as providing a number of job opportunities and economic benefits to the local region over the next 18 months of development, as well as beyond construction when the facility will provide many long term employment opportunities.
With additional villas being sold, construction will start on these new homes next month as well.
“Our Gundy Road site will certainly become very active, very soon, and we look forward to delivering these projects to the Upper Hunter community, with the continued growth and development of Strathearn,” Mr Downie said.
The first stage is planned to be completed by the middle of next year.