The State Government has shown its commitment to investment in aged care accommodation in the region with its announced funding to Bedingfeld Park in Pinjarra. This funding will support a new 25-bed dementia specific wing in the existing facility allowing ageing residents to remain in their local community.
The new wing will be an integrated expansion of the current 45-bed facility, which includes 12 existing dementia care beds. Designed for people living with dementia and requiring a high level of nursing care, the new 25 single rooms will have a dedicated ensuite bathroom and robe area. The new wing will also include a nurse’s station, common living, dining and activities areas, treatment and utility rooms, servery kitchen, secured landscaped courtyard and areas for staff training and support services such as physiotherapy.
Bedingfeld Park is a community-owned not-for-profit residential aged care facility in successful operation since 1983. Currently operating at capacity with an annual waitlist, this funding will allow Bedingfeld Park to meet more of the demand for aged care services with increased quality for senior residents in the Peel.
Quality aged care accommodation is fundamental in enabling Western Australians to remain living in their local communities, which benefits local jobs and local business, and aligns with the Shire of Murray’s Pinjarra aged care precinct plan and aged-friendly community vision.
Shire of Murray President, David Bolt said, “The Shire of Murray is thrilled at the announcement from the State Government for $2 million towards the $7.1 expansion to provide an additional 25 dementia residential places at Bedingfeld Park Aged Care Facility. With the future population projections and the expected shortage of residential care places of over 200 places within the next decade this is a great step forward. The Bedingfeld development aligns closely with the Shire’s draft Pinjarra Revitalisation Strategy and Activity Centre Plan which will transform the area in the vicinity of Bedingfeld and the Murray District Hospital into a ‘Health Precinct’.”
This funding also represents economic growth stimulus with the creation of an additional 28 (FTE) jobs, and a contribution to skills diversity in the health care and social assistance sector. Expenditure during construction is expected to have a broad impact on the economic output equivalent to $18.5 million. The construction of the site will also see goods and services locally sourced wherever possible and the completion of the project will see an increase in the demand for house staff as well as external contractors for ongoing services such as maintenance, gardening, security, laundry services and hairdressing as well as increased demand for food, medical supplies and lifestyle consumables.