Warrigal aged care in Queanbeyan set to expand three-fold

Construction on the three-storey building is set to begin mid next year, and will result in a tripling of beds at the centre.

Warrigal staff have recently started making other arrangements for the 45 people currently in care, who need to be relocated prior to the demolition of the existing building.

Individual villas on the site will not be affected by the plans, with the new building to face the existing village.

Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell said the new development would be “cruise-ship style” aged care.

“Every bed will be an individual luxury suite,” Mr Sewell said.

“It really is aged care, cruise-ship style. You have your suite or your cabin but most of the time you meet a lot of people in large areas which are about entertainment and food and enjoying yourself,” he said.

Mr Sewell said the home did provide privacy but it was mostly built on community.

The individual suites would include dementia care and palliative care accommodation. About 20 beds will initially be set up for dementia sufferers, but each room in the new aged care centre will be adaptable.

The state-of-the-art facility, which will incorporate design principles from across the world, will allow residents to have greater choice, on-demand with the use of an easy-to-use device in each room. 

The centre will also incorporate a physiotherapy, wellness and allied health centre.

The old quarry house will be used as a community centre, and the village gardens are incorporated into the new design.

The build is expected to begin mid next year and be completed in late 2018.

It is expected to cost $28 million.

The new development will offer 125 beds in individual suites, and is expected to create an additional 100 jobs in the Queanbeyan region.