Work has commenced on the Mercy Place Ballarat residential aged home which will expand on the 135-year tradition of the Sisters of Mercy caring for the Ballarat community.
Mercy Health Group Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen said Mercy Place Ballarat will cater for 112 residents in 14 small households.
“Small community households are at the centre of our model of care and Mercy Place Ballarat will be the first home to be built around this concept,” Adj Prof Cornelissen explained.
“After many years of research and review of caring for older people, and especially those living with dementia, this new model of care is built around relationships, personal enablement and choice, meaningful living and reducing loneliness, isolation and boredom.”
“Anecdotally, we are already seeing some encouraging results for our residents in small community households in Western Australia including an increase in weight gain and a reduction in falls.”
Mercy Place Ballarat will also boast a bar, landscaped gardens including activity gardens, a cafe, grocer, chapel and a wellness centre for residents and their families to enjoy.
Mercy Place Ballarat is expected to help ease the forecast demand on aged care in the region. The State Government’s Victoria in the Future 2016 report showed Ballarat’s over 65 population is expected to increase by 143 per cent by 2031, the fourth biggest rise after greater Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo.
“Mercy Health is thrilled to be able to build on the work of the Sisters of Mercy in Ballarat and provide more aged care options for local people from all faith backgrounds,” Adj Prof Cornelissen said.
Mercy Place Ballarat is being built by H. Troon Pty Ltd and is expected to be complete by September 2018.
Mercy Health is a Catholic organisation founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2000 year history of caring for others. Mercy Health is a national provider of health, aged and home and community care services throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
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Last reviewed December 27, 2017.
