The last Council-operated aged care facility in Perth will close its doors on 30 June 2023, after the Council failed to find a buyer for the 42-bed home.
At the City of Canning’s Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 21 March, the Council made the difficult decision to close the home, promising to support residents transitioning to new care providers.
The City of Canning reviewed Canning Lodge’s operations in 2016 and implemented significant improvements. However, the Royal Commission and COVID put pressure on the operation, and after suffering financial losses, which were expected to increase this year, the Council sought a buyer – but none could be found.
Now the Council has decided to close the home, confident its 46 residents will find a new home at one of the 46 aged care homes with a 10km radius of Canning Lodge.
Canning Lodge, which is in the south Perth suburb of Willetton, was built in the 1990s for low-needs residents, but over time, its residents required higher acuity care
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said, “Since the onset of COVID-19 we have struggled to fill our 42 beds, many in our community are choosing to stay at home longer in their own homes and this has been further affected by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
"The inherent risk associated with running a high-care facility of this type has been a key concern of this Council for some years."
“Sourcing and retaining experienced clinical staff has been a significant challenge, as has been complying with the strict and frequently changing regulatory requirements for aged care facilities."
“We do not have the expertise to continue to run it alone, and there has been little interest from other aged care providers to take over its operations.
“Our focus is now on the smooth transition of these residents.
“Those entering residential aged care in the later parts of their life deserve access to the best quality nursing and clinical health care possible, and local governments are not best placed to provide it.”
