Aged care provider Whiddon is the latest operator to close a residential care home in regional NSW.
CEO Chris Mamarelis last year appealed on local radio and in a letter to the town, 691km northwest of Sydney, to see if there were people who required the operator’s services.
“For many years, Whiddon has heavily subsidised our service in Walgett, which is now costing around a quarter of a million dollars annually, to keep our doors open. For a significant time now, we have experienced a decline in admissions, which is further compounded by the presence of a Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) in the area,” said Chris in his letter.
“Despite our very best efforts and commitment to finding ways to continue to offer our services to the local community, the decline for our services remains. This means that after a decade of providing care to the Walgett community, it was with very heavy hearts, that we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors to Whiddon Walgett.”
The maximum Refundable Accommodation Deposit at Whiddon Walgett is $330,000 with the maximum Daily Accommodation Payment set at $36.53.
Whiddon’s decision follows that of Warrigal to shut its 140-bed Warilla aged care home, Newcastle-based Anglican Care to shutter two homes and Southern Cross Care NSW/ACT decision to close two homes.
