LESS like a nursing home and more like a home.
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That’s the idea behind Uniting’s Wontama aged care facility, which is well on its way to completion in Byng Street.
The facility unveiled a display room on Friday so residents and their families could find out what to expect from the state-of-the-art aged care facility, which includes 72 beds in 68 rooms.
Uniting Orange Residential Service Manager Helen Mobbs said staff and residents were looking forward to a new type of aged care service.
“Residents, their families and staff are very excited,” she said.
“The new concept, or model of care, that we are providing is very much a household model so people feel at home, which is very different to the traditional institutional model a lot of other places have.
“There is a central kitchen with the bedrooms coming off that and also small dining and lounge areas so it feels like you’re in your own home.”
Ms Mobbs said the facility offered residents the opportunity to function as they normally would if they were still at home, although those who could not would receive assistance.
Because many residents had been living in the old model for some time, she said the display room had been a great way to show them what the facility was aiming for in terms of their care.
“We want to make our own community within the community of Orange,” she said.
“Residents have been delighted so far, they love the colour and space and the window, which is enormous.
“They have been quite surprised with the size of the bathroom as well and its functionality. A lot have said that this could well be their home.”
Builders at the site have had their hands full, and not just from the site manager.
“The residents have been getting quite involved telling the contractors what they’re doing right and what they’re not doing right,” Ms Mobbs said.
“At this stage we’re on track for our finish date in November.”
bryson.ferreira@fairfaxmedia.com.au