Oberon made it clear it would not accept anything less than a first class aged care facility at a meeting with representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing on Tuesday.
Members of Oberon Council, Oberon Aged Care Committee, Mr Mark Andrews representing Member for Macquarie Bob Debus, Dr Bob Connors and architect Mark Boffa met with Manager Approved Provider and Allocations Management Section Emma Jobson and Manager of Residential Care Section Bronwyn Evans from the Department of Health and Ageing to update Oberon’s aged care situation and progress and to inquire about the bed allocation process to occur later in the year.
In what was reported to be a very positive meeting, the results of the Aged Care survey carried out earlier in the year, which were analysed by Dr Bob Connors, were presented to the Department’s representatives.
A total of 322 questionnaires were returned to council from Oberon district, and 42 from outside the Oberon Shire Council boundaries.
The main findings showed that Oberon has an ageing population, with 212 respondents aged 70 years and over.
Seventy-four of those 212 respondents were over 80 years of age.
Other findings were that 99 respondents perceived a need for aged care assistance within the next two to three years, with 20 respondents indicating a need for high care assistance.
Additionally, 44 Oberon citizens plus 12 from outside the Oberon Council area indicated they had relatives who would utilise an Oberon aged care facility if one was constructed.
Mayor Keith Sullivan said the survey has shown a great need for an aged care facility, and that in the near future more than 100 people will need an aged care facility in Oberon.
Mr Sullivan said that a message was sent very clearly to the Department’s representatives that Oberon insists on a high standard facility.
“The community know what they want, and won’t accept a second-rate facility,” he said.
Mr Sullivan said unity was shown across the board by all those representing Oberon at the meeting.
“It reflected the resolution of the community to get what we want,” he said.
Chairman of the Oberon Aged Care Committee, Ian Whalan said currently in Oberon there were 11 people waiting for high care beds, four waiting for low care beds, two high care patients in acute care beds at the Oberon Hospital and eight aged care packages being used in the town.
Mr Whalan said it was very important that Oberon does all it can to receive a first class facility that is exactly what the Oberon community wants.
“We have one chance to get it right, and if we don’t get it right, it will be wrong forever,” he said.
Mr Whalan said the Department’s representatives were also told that, at the moment, there are no aged care beds available at Lithgow, Blayney and Portland and only two available in shared rooms at Bathurst.
The representatives were taken on a tour of the proposed site and informed of Oberon’s progress in preparing for a facility, including having an approved development application and securing land for the facility.
“They were impressed and surprised by how far Oberon has progressed already,” Mr Sullivan said.
According to council, the Department’s representatives suggested Oberon submit its application to the Aged Care Planning Assessment Panel around August/September and then submit its application again when the call is made for submissions for the second round of bed allocations.
“The challenge now is to get enough beds for the aged people in town and that the facility is of a high standard,” Mr Sullivan said.
It has not been made clear when bed allocations will be announced, but it is expected to be late in the year.
Another renowned aged car provider will be visiting Oberon this Friday to look at the area, visit the site and to acquire all relevant material regarding Oberon’s bid for an aged care facility.
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