Rupanyup nursing home to receive $2.592 million in upgrades

On Tuesday, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan announced $30 million in funding to improve Victoria's public sector residential aged care services.

A spokesman for the minister confirmed the nursing home will receive $2,592,000 as part of this package, along with three other Grampians and Wimmera facilities.

West Wimmera Health Service chief executive Ritchie Dodds said upgrading the facility had been on the agenda since amalgamating with Dunmunkle Health Services in 2016.

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"There are parts of it that are very old," he said.

"Stage one will see 14 new rooms built and help us clean up some of the old rooms, so instead of it being 23 beds in 15 rooms, there will be no shared rooms anymore. The rooms will also be proper sized, at the moment small rooms make it difficult to move people and equipment around.

"There will also be no shared amenities: At the moment, six people use one bathroom, but this will give everyone their own ensuite, which is what everyone expects from residential care in this day and age."

Mr Dodds said there were currently 18 residents at the facility, which employed 40 staff.

"We are obviously very happy for residents and the Rupanyup community, because they have been very patient with it."

Mr Dodds said there would also be more dining space, a dementia-friendly courtyard and a dedicated lounge for residents. He said the second stage of the upgrade project would cost an extra $1.2 million.

"This week we are allowing more visiting to our aged care facilities than we were before, so that's been a light at the end of the tunnel for staff and residents," he said.

Also receiving funds are Wimmera Healthcare Group-operated facilities at Dimboola District Hospital ($180,302), and Wimmera Nursing Home ($126,060).

In Stawell, Macpherson Smith Residential Care will receive $98,000.

Wimmera Health Care Group oversees the Dimboola campus and Horsham's Wimmera Nursing Home, as well as Kurrajong Lodge.

Sarah Kleinitz, director of the WHCG's residential services, said they would replace the flooring in Dimboola's hallways, bedrooms and common areas with the money.

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"It creates a modern atmosphere and more homely approach," she said. "There is also a lot of research out there about making use of different types of flooring, to support people living with different types of dementia and make them feel more at ease.

"We are hoping to get that process underway as soon as possible."

Mrs Kleinitz said the WHCG would replace Wimmera Nursing Home's nurse call bell system with the Horsham funding.

"That will enable residents to have more timely access to team members, so they will know exactly what assistance they will need to (address) them in a more timely fashion," she said.

She said the nursing home residents were faring well during the pandemic, but the reduction in visitors had had an impact.

Under Victorian COVID-19 restrictions, an aged care resident can only have one visitor at a time except in end-of-life care situations, among other measures.

"They get to embrace the video call with their families, which has been so valuable," she said.

"They love hearing stories, photos and letters, so if anyone out in the community wants to reach out, please do so."

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