Sod-turning for Opal Aged Care & Stockland’s joint aged care & retirement village project
Ashfield, NSW
29 May 2015
10.15am
E & OE
Subjects: Innovation in aged care
JOURNALIST:
Senator, we’re on the cusp of a big change I suppose in aged care as the greater weight of the population ages, so does the concept of aged care?
FIFIELD:
Absolutely. We’re an ageing population. It’s exciting that we have 3,000 people who are 100 years or older at the moment. But by 2050, we’ll have 50,000 centenarians. So we’re living longer and living better.
But also, people who are living longer have greater expectations of the sorts of services and supports that they get in aged care.
JOURNALIST:
How does this development differ from previous homes?
FIFIELD:
This development has both a retirement village and an aged care facility on the one site. Which means that someone can buy into a retirement village, living independently. But as their needs increase, they can be supported where they live. And if their needs increase further, then they can move into the aged care facility, which is part of the same community that they’ve been part of. So it’s a fabulous model.
JOURNALIST:
This type of development, would this be the first that you’ve seen? This vertical village concept?
FIFIELD:
Look there are a few, but it’s a relatively recent concept. But it’s a good one. You can have a big community on a site. People can age in place, and then move to the aged care facility as they need to.
JOURNALIST:
And given the cost of land in Sydney at the moment, going up would seem to be the way they’re going.
FIFIELD:
Well going up is cost effective. And this is a terrific part of Sydney, the inner West. It’s a great place to live as you get older.
ENDS
Media contact: Lydia Paterson | 0409 792 081 | lydia.paterson@dss.gov.au