Helping Hand to strengthen Whyalla Aged Care with $17.2m funding boost

L-R: Chris Stewart, Helping Hand CEO; Graham Harding, Helping Hand Whyalla Residential Services Manager; Phill Stone, Whyalla Mayor; Melinda Richardson, Helping Hand Executive Manager Residential Services

Helping Hand to strengthen Whyalla Aged Care with $17.2m funding boost

9 May 2024

In fantastic news for Whyalla, aged care provider Helping Hand has announced a $17.2m, Federal-Government funded upgrade and expansion of its Whyalla facilities.

The investment will enable Helping Hand to significantly upgrade and expand its Residential Care homes in Whyalla, providing more quality care for local residents.

Mayor Phill Stone has welcomed Helping Hand's commitment to - and investment in - our city.

"This is a major investment in our community and only the beginning of them delivering on a much larger vision for Whyalla," Mayor Stone said.

"I commend them for assisting in providing much-needed facilities for our aged community, while also showing confidence in our city by investing in their local operations."

The funding will help provide upgrades at two facilities:

Yeltana Care Home

• A new wing of ten rooms
• An upgrade of all shared rooms to individual rooms
• Private ensuite bathrooms for all rooms
• A new dining area and multi-purpose activity space
• An upgrade of electrical systems
• Improved back of house entry and external areas
• Additional two rooms for new residents

Copperhouse Court

• Six additional rooms
• A flexible multi-purpose space for activities
• An upgraded to rooms and amenities including electrical systems like nurse call and security
• Landscaped and sheltered external areas

Helping Hand Chief Executive Officer Chris Stewart praised the Albanese Government for their $17.2m funding boost.

"This funding means more Whyalla residents will have access to quality care locally and be able to spend their final years close to their family and community," Mr Stewart said.

"The investment will allow us to expand our services to make sure no one has to leave in order to get the care they need.

"With the support of the Albanese Government, we will be able to upgrade all shared rooms to individual rooms with private ensuite bathrooms and increase capacity at our Yeltana Residential Care home.

"We will also be able to increase capacity and improve the amenities for our residents at our Copperhouse Court home.

"Developing facilities to meet modern-day standards and expectations comes at a significant cost. The traditional hostel model of aged care, with share rooms and amenities, does not deliver on dignity, safety and privacy. Rightfully, residents expect to be able to move into a private room with a private ensuite, which is why funding like this is crucial."

The Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the government was committed to supporting aged care services in regional Australia.

"The Albanese Government continues to provide more than $600 million in grant funding to support building and upgrading aged care services for First Nations, regional, rural and remote communities.

"When the time comes, older people in Whyalla want to access aged care services in the community they know and love and be close to their families and cultural connections. This funding will support that to happen.

"Our investment directly supports aged care providers operating outside the major cities to build, modernise and improve their services so older people in Australia can have access to better quality aged care services where they need them."

The recent Aged Care Taskforce report found Australia's aged care needs are increasing as the population ages, and expectations of quality improvements are high. Report Here

"Residential aged care will always have a place in the community, and as the population of older South Australians rises, we need to make sure we keep up with improving the quality of the care available in regional communities," Mr Stewart said.

Since acquiring Kindred Living in November 2022, Helping Hand has been determined to build on the legacy created by Whyalla locals to assist older and vulnerable people to remain living in their community as they age. Aged care services in Whyalla were established by the local community and since first being invested into in 1968 have continued to grow.

"At Helping Hand, we take the responsibility to honour this history, and to continue this legacy, very seriously. We're delighted that we have been able to secure this funding to develop and enhance the aged care services available to regional South Australians."

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