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The Catholic Leader, March 22, 2020
www.catholicleader.com.auSENIOR LIVING
Advertising
Feature
New aged-care facility to help
support the elderly of Mackay
OZCARE has been proudly sup-
porting the Mackay community
for more than two decades with a
range of aged care, disability care,
respite care, nursing, allied health
and dementia advisory and support
services.
Ozcare’s caring workforce wraps around
nearly 600 people in Mackay and surrounding
areas, to help seniors and people living with a
disability live independently in their own homes
and participate in their local communities.
The warmth and dedication of Ozcare’s carers
can be felt in each smile, each comforting word,
and each task that is completed with genuine
care, just as they would for their own families.
This is what makes Ozcare feel like home.
Demonstrating their commitment to the
region, Ozcare’s 120-bed aged-care facility near
completion in West Mackay is incorporating
state-of-the-art design features as demand for
residential aged care shifts towards more pri-
vacy, staying connected and specialist dementia
care.
Ozcare’s head of aged care Lanna Ramsay
said the new facility aimed to help alleviate pres-
sure on local services from an estimated increase
in the prevalence of dementia in the Mackay
region in the next 11 years.
“New figures show more than 2000 people
living with dementia in the Mackay
region – this is expected to grow by two-thirds
over the next 10 years,” she said.
“How people age is different now. Dementia is
more prevalent now than ever.
“We now design our buildings in a way that
allows for privacy.
“Ozcare Mackay will offer generous single
rooms with private ensuites and balconies and
extra-large enclosed suites.
“Older people want aged-care facilities to
have a relaxed, home-like feel – it’s their home.
“It’s no longer a demise to come into residen-
tial aged care – people come in to live life.”
Some of the features designed to help bring
people out of their rooms, bring life to the facil-
ity and cater for specialist dementia care include:
l
Intimate private lounges and dining areas
for residents to entertain family and friends
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Extensive grounds and gardens with walk-
ing paths and seating
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A coffee shop open to the public
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A children’s playground, and lawn bowls
for family, friends and to bring the wider com-
munity into the facility
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Two secure dementia care wings (18 beds
each)
Ms Ramsay said Ozcare’s focus was on keep-
ing people well and agile and bringing meaning
and purpose to their lives when they could no
longer stay at home.
“Our residents are encouraged and supported
to keep participating in things they like to do,
both inside and outside of the facility,” she said.
According to latest statistics:
l
Deloitte Access Economics statistics show
the Federal Seat of Dawson has 2204 people
living with dementia in 2019. This figure is
expected to increase to 3644 in a decade and to
6855 in the next 30 years.
l
The predicted increase in the prevalence
of dementia in the Mackay region will have a
significant impact on services.
l
13.2 per cent of Mackay’s population is
currently aged 65 or more.
Features:
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120-bed facility
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Two secure dementia wings (18 beds each)
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Residential respite care for people needing
short-term care
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In house coffee shop with children’s play-
ground and lawn bowls
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Retirement village to be built next door (co-
located for continuum of care)
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Opens mid-June 2020
Address: 15 Charlotte Street, West Mac-
kay
New facility:
Ozcare’s new 120-bed aged-care facility at West Mackay is nearing completion. It is
due to open in mid-June this year.