Multi-million dollar aged care upgrade

Construction on new residential rooms at Lumeah Homes Residential Aged Care Facility, co-located at Snowtown Hospital, will soon commence as part of an upgrade to boost local aged care services.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the $3.4 million upgrade would trigger the creation of dozens of local construction jobs while also providing better care, closer to home for the local community. 

“The Marshall Liberal Government has a clear focus on boosting regional health services to provide better care, closer to home and these upgrades will help us deliver on that commitment to the local community,” Minister Wade said.

“The $3.4 million upgrade will ensure residents living at Lumeah Homes can continue to receive high-quality aged care in well maintained facilities, both now and into the future.

“The upgrade, to be completed by ICM Construction, will provide brand new kitchen facilities and refurbished resident rooms so we can continue to deliver quality, contemporary care within our facility.

“We are committed to improving regional health services and infrastructure to better support the health and wellbeing of all country South Australians.”

The upgrades are part of the State Liberal Government’s $140 million Regional Asset Sustainment Program to provide essential asset sustainment and compliance works across regional health and aged care facilities.

Local Liberal Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis welcomed the investment in his community.

“The timing of this significant investment at Snowtown could not be better, with the project creating much needed construction jobs  whilst providing a long awaiting multi-million-dollar upgrade  for aged care services in our region,” Mr Ellis said.

“Having visited Lumeah Homes last year I am aware of how proud the district is of this prized community asset and how vital the planned improvements are to ensure the facility can offer the highest quality of care for many years to come.“ 

Snowtown Hospital Executive Officer and Director of Nursing, Andrew Daulby, said the upgrades are a significant step forward for the Lumeah Homes Residential Aged Care Facility to continue to operate at the highest standards.

“This is an exciting time for our region and we are pleased to receive this much needed upgrade,” Mr Daulby said.   

“The upgrade to kitchen facilities, doorways, corridors, resident bedrooms and bathrooms will improve access throughout the facility and ensure we can continue to deliver high quality comfort and care to residents for many years to come.

“The new nurse call system, sprinklers and security system will also ensure our facility is fully equipped in the event of an emergency.

“As these upgrades roll out, residents may be temporarily relocated to other areas of the facility and we would like to thank them and the community for their understanding during this time.”

The construction tender for the upgrade was awarded to ICM Constructions. Works on the upgrade are expected to commence in late-August 2020, and be completed in mid-2021.