More than 100 new jobs will be created through a partnership with nationally respected aged care provider, HammondCare, to deliver an innovative, cottage-home like environment for people with dementia at the revitalised Repat site.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the relationship with HammondCare represents a multimillion-dollar investment in caring for people with dementia, which will provide about 120 jobs for South Australians.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to providing the absolute best care for people with dementia on the Repat site,” Minister Wade said.
“In line with the recommendations of the Oakden Report, our partnership with HammondCare, marks a new era of caring for older people with complex care needs.
“The revitalised Repat site is a fitting location for a brand new, fit-for-purpose 78-bed residential service that will be tailored to the needs of the individual.”
Minister Wade said the new Dementia Care Facility will include cottage-style, home-like accommodation to care for people with varying stages of dementia.
“The homes for people with dementia will be designed to enhance quality of life, and will include two cottages funded by the Commonwealth under the Specialist Dementia Care Units (SDCU) program.
“As part of the partnership between the State Government and HammondCare, we will ensure residents within the Dementia Care Facility receive the care they need in a home-like environment.
“With latest data showing dementia is on the rise in South Australia, it is very timelier to build a range of facilities that provide the best support to people who need specialised care.
A HammondCare facility in New South Wales was highlighted in the Chief Psychiatrist’s “Oakden Report” as an example of best practice in dementia care.
Federal Member for Boothby Nicolle Flint said the announcement was an important milestone in reactivating the Repat for the local community and returning health services to the site.
“This announcement is another significant milestone in the reactivation of this iconic precinct and in ensuring that the residents in my local community, and across South Australia, have access to the health services they need as they grow older,” Ms Flint said.
“The investment by the state and federal governments in dementia care at the Repat will deliver the very best care for residents at the site as well as restore confidence for families that their loved ones are safe and receiving the careful attention they deserve”.
HammondCare Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Judd, said they are looking forward to providing individually tailored dementia care in a specially-designed, therapeutic environment in South Australia.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to create a centre of dementia care excellence in South Australia, ensuring the State’s most vulnerable community members can live with dignity and quality of life,” Dr Judd said.
“With a strong focus on independence, we provide specialist dementia care that meets the needs of the individual, whether that is clinical, social or spiritual.
“We expect to provide 120 new jobs for South Australians in a range of full-time, part-time and casual positions, including specialist dementia carers, specialised dementia advisors, nurses and other roles such as admin and maintenance.”
Dr Duncan McKellar, psychogeriatrician and co-author of the Oakden Report, said the addition of HammondCare and the new facility is an important step forward in implementing the Oakden Response statewide model of care, providing best-practice services for South Australians living with dementia.
“A compassionate approach to care, where the person and their family are fully understood and remain at the centre of care, is at the heart of quality dementia services,” Dr McKellar said.
“HammondCare have a very strong history as a leading provider of dementia care in Australia, and their involvement will add tremendous value to the work already underway within our state.”
The site will comprise of two, nine-bed SDCUs appropriate for caring for people with severe behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, as well as 60 beds within four, 15-bed cottages for care and support for people with dementia who have complex care needs.
Clinical oversight for the homes for people with dementia will be the responsibility of HammondCare, with specialist clinical support such as psychogeriatricians or geriatricians provided by SA Health.
First demolition works for HammondCare’s facilities are expected to begin on the Repat site in the first half of 2020.
Separate to the HammondCare facilities, an 18-bed neurobehavioural unit (NBU) is to be developed adjacent to the Dementia Care Facility, with works expected to commence January 2020.
For more information, go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/repat.
