Snowy Monaro Regional Council plans to recommend that ownership of Yallambee Lodge, in Cooma, 114km south of Canberra be transferred to the aged care turnaround specialists.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council did have plans to sell the home, where, tragically, Clare Nowland was allegedly Tasered, to Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care, but the South Coast provider has dropped out of negotiations.
The Council will now recommend at a 20 July Ordinary General Meeting that Yallambee be transferred to Respect Aged Care, and that construction of a planned memory support unit not proceed.
Respect Aged Care Managing Director Jason Binder told The SOURCE, Respect has been working with the Council to develop a “community aged care solution for Cooma and its surrounding areas” for some time.
“Whilst final terms have not been agreed, and nothing is official, the proposed transfer would see Respect take on Yallambee Lodge and run the home whilst we upgrade and expand Hudson House to accommodate the residential aged care needs of the entire community.”
Respect acquired another Cooma aged care home, Hudson House (formerly Sir William Hudson Memorial Centre), in March 2023.
“Once this development was completed, residents and staff from Yallambee Lodge would transfer to Hudson House, and Yallambee Lodge would be closed,” Jason said.
“Our belief is that the best solution for the Cooma community is a redeveloped, modern, single ensuite, expanded Hudson House, which would consolidate operational costs in the area and provide the community with a sustainable, long-term, and contemporary residential aged care home where the older people of Cooma and surrounding areas could have the best possible place to enjoy their lives.”
The Council has not been able to find an operator willing to take on its third aged care home, Snowy River Hostel.
In the last three years, aged care has cost Snowy Monaro Regional Council about $8.9 million, a large component of which is staff agency costs.
The SOURCE: Respect Aged Care has a successful track record of acquiring aged care homes at the invitation of community boards and through economies of scale and focusing on culture turning around the operations.