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THE Lakes Mail has obtained a sneak peak at Anglican Care's new $39 million residential aged care facility at Toronto.
The building will consist of five levels.
The bottom two levels will be dedicated to administrative services and basement car parking.
Residents will occupy the upper three floors.
Each of the residential levels has been designed to meet specific and projected needs of residents.
The first residential floor will provide accommodation for residents living with dementia.
The second residential floor will have both high-care and palliative-care accommodation.
The top floor will provide additional high-care beds, along with the option of operating a transitional care wing in co-ordination with another health care facility.
Anglican Care chief executive officer Colin Osborne said the introduction of a palliative-care wing is unique to a care facility of this type.
"[The wing] is symbolic of Anglican Care's desire to pursue potential synergies with nearby hospitals," Mr Osborne said.
Work started on the project last week, and is expected to take a year to complete.
The building will feature landscaped grounds including a dementia-care courtyard and perimeter gardens.
Mr Osborne said both Brighton Avenue and Cary Street will be enhanced with new street tree plantings, and there will also be a new cafe and outdoor terrace on the ground floor.
"The location of the site is ideal for seniors, being situated close to Lake Macquarie, Toronto Private Hospital, retail and other community facilities, and will provide enhanced choices for people seeking aged care services," Mr Osborne said.
He said the Hunter will grow faster than any other area in NSW outside of the Sydney basin between now and 2050.
"Approximately 17 per cent of Lake Macquarie residents are aged 65 and over; but by 2022, 25 per cent of the population will be over 65.
"This means organisations such as Anglican Care need to plan and move now to ensure we can meet that demand in the decades to come."