FOR all of its aesthetic appeal and functional design, the $39 million Kilpatrick Court aged care facility in Toronto should ultimately be assessed on how it scores on the ‘mum or dad test’, Anglican Care’s chief executive Colin Osborne said.
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Speaking at the official opening of the building on Wednesday, Mr Osborne said the bricks and mortar were important, but it was the standard of care that mattered most in such a facility.
That is, would Kilpatrick Court be a place you’d be happy to have your ageing mum or dad live in?
For Mr Osborne, the answer is a resounding yes.
“This facility reflects a standard of environment that supports contemporary delivery of aged care services,” he said.
“It’s a safe environment for our residents. It’s a safe environment for our staff. It’s a very pleasant environment from an aesthetics perspective.
“And quite simply, and importantly from my perspective, it will meet the ‘my mum or dad’ test.”
While acknowledging the role of the Anglican Care board, and the project’s building and design partners, Mr Osborne made special mention of the organisation’s staff for their “unwavering commitment to excellence in service and care” to clients and residents.
“I really need to take my hat off to every single staff member at Anglican Care for where we’ve been able to take this organisation in the last five years, and where I know we’ll be able to take it in the future,” he said.
It was a theme continued by John Kilpatrick, the Anglican Care chairman whose family name adorns the building.
“It is the compassion, care and love of our staff that make these buildings a home,” Mr Kilpatrick said.
He said moving residents into the new facility had proved a logistical challenge, and “the staff performed superbly”.
The residential aged care home comprises 147 places. Around-the-clock care is provided for residents.
Mr Osborne said Kilpatrick Court, on Brighton Avenue, had been the No 1 priority in Anglican Care’s plan to reinvigorate its portfolio of facilities.
The next project on the development agenda was the C A Brown facility in Booragul, while there are plans to build retirement living units on land next to Kilpatrick Court.
Anglican Care was also in the process of acquiring properties in Gloucester and Bulahdelah, he said.
“Anglican Care currently has $160 million worth of projects that are either under construction or in the planning phase,” he said.
Among those at the official opening were Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser and general manager Brian Bell, and federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon.