By Bonny Burrows
Outer suburban land in areas such as Pakenham is being increasingly snapped up for retirement villages to meet an ageing society.
During a visit to Pakenham’s Shanagolden residential care facility on 28 April, State Member for Eastern Victoria Region Daniel Mulino spoke of the important role outer suburban aged care homes played in society,
Mr Mulino said with the area a recognised growth corridor and an increasingly ageing society, it was important local aged care facilities had the support needed to meet ever-changing needs.
There was an increased demand for flexible retirement options and “ageing in place” facilities, he said.
The Board Chairman of Shanagolden’s operator Villa Maria Catholic Homes Bill Scales agreed.
“Aged care is such an important issue in society today, and not only is aged care important, but it’s important to find ways aged care fits a contemporary 21st century Australia,” Mr Scales said.
“So what we have here is what we call ageing in place, therefore it’s very important Daniel is here to see that, see the practicality of that, and how that can corporate in other societies and other communities.”
Ageing in place describes a person living in the residence of their choice, for as long as they are able, as they age.
They both concurred that there was a greater demand for facilities such as Shanagolden, which offer independent and supervised living arrangements to allow residents to stay within the one facility as their needs change, particularly in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
