Project complete after $372k funding boost

BEECHWORTH Health Service has received more than $372,000 to upgrade facilities this month through a State Government initiative. Disability, Ageing and Carers minister Luke Donnellan on Friday announced Beechworth Health Services was among 21 successful public sector aged care recipients of the $10m Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Program, alongside almost $26,000 for Alpine Health. The renewal program supports improvement projects to deliver significant enhancements for aged care residents and help meet the growing demand for services in regional and rural Victoria. The upgrade, which sees the completion of a five–year long project, includes the conversion of three shared bathrooms to six single bathrooms, to enhance infection control infrastructure. Chief executive officer Mark Ashcroft said the aged care service is "committed to the maintenance and ongoing enhancement of its amenities". "These are for the benefit of our patients, residents and staff," he said. "Over the past few years this commitment has seen BHS successfully apply for funding support for the refurbishment of 12 shared bathrooms into 24 individual bathrooms, air conditioning upgrade, carpet replacement in aged care, replacement of x–ray equipment, upgraded power access for aged care and LED lighting replacement across the BHS site, refurbishment of the acute nurses' station, alterations to the entrances of the acute consultation room and urgent care room and re–development of the common areas that connect our residential aged care wings to enhance connections for our residents with family and community. "Most recently, BHS has successfully applied for funding through the 2020–2021 Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Fund to complete the residential aged care bathrooms and this will allow BHS to refurbish three shared bathrooms into six individual bathrooms. "BHS acknowledges the support of the funding round in our capacity to complete off this important work for our existing residents and future residents of BHS residential aged acre facility. "This enhances the amenity in aged care for our residents and staff and enhances BHS's commitment to best practice infection control measures. "In the event that one or more of our residents are required to isolate, this is a much more pleasant experience for them and enables our care team to support the residents' care needs more effectively. "The refurbished bathrooms also provide more room for our care team and residents as well as privacy and convenience." Mr Donnellan said the program is modernising and upgrading public residential aged care right across the state. "We're providing older Victorians with access to the very best services, amenities and care," he said. "This is about ensure aged care facilities in regional and rural Victoria have the vital infrastructure and equipment they need to continue to care for their local community. "There is no more worthwhile investment; helping to rebuild our economy, while also ensuring the quality of aged care for all Victorians, no matter where they live." More information on the Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Program is available at vhba.vic.gov.au/aged–care/regional–facilities/rural–residential–aged–care–facilities–renewal–program.

Project complete after $372k funding boost

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