After more than 70 years of providing aged care in Warrnambool and southwest Victoria, stand-alone operator Lyndoch Living is joining Managing Director and CEO Jason Binder's continually growing business.

Its 198-bed residential aged care home, retirement living units, and local home care services will become part of Respect on 1 June 2024, marking the 26th aged care business to come under Respect's operation. 

Lyndoch Living reported a $3.7 million surplus as of January 2024 for the current financial year, a contrast to the $5.7 million deficit recorded in 2022, as a result of a three-year turnaround plan initiated by the board.

"Overall, the efficiency of operations is excellent with occupancy between 95%-97.4%," Acting Chief Executive Officer Jill Davidson said in a statement in March.

However, Lyndoch Living Chair Dr Peter O’Brien said navigating the current environment as a stand-alone aged care provider had become increasingly difficult, and it was decided a larger provider, such as Respect, would ensure the “sustainable future of the Lyndoch legacy”.

Lyndoch Living in Warrnambool is Respect's 12th aged care operation in Victoria, allowing it also to expand its home care and retirement living operations. The group also has nine aged care homes in Tasmania and four in NSW.  

“Respect is committed to delivering exceptional care for older Australians in rural and regional Australia and ensuring aged care services continue to be sustainable and available for local families in need,” Jason said. “Bringing Lyndoch Living into our family of aged care homes and services will ensure the longevity of its support for South-West Victoria, which already exceeds several decades.

“As a Not For Profit organisation, we’ve been growing throughout the past decade and have become known for our ability to make aged care homes thrive while investing back into the home and the surrounding community."

JASON BINDER: THE TURNAROUND KING in SATURDAY