Community workshops to inform new strategy for aged care in Boddington

New aged care accommodation is being looked at by the Shire of Boddington with a series of community workshops to be held and an initial report expected in September.

It is not the first time the Shire has considered aged care accommodation.

In 2012, the aged care plan from Verso Consulting identified an ageing population as one of the growing challenges facing the shire.

“Addressing the needs of older people is becoming increasingly important as the ageing demographic is increasing demand for services and tailored aged persons’ housing,” it said.

More recently, the Shire established an aged care committee chaired by Dr Coert Erasmus to develop the scope of the project.

Now, a series of workshops will be held in Wandering, Boddington and Williams on July 26, 27 and 28, to give community members a chance to voice their thoughts.

The workshops will be held by Verso Consulting, a company founded in 2000 that specialises in areas such as aged care, disability support and child services.

Verso will combine workshop feedback with research into the financial and licence implications of aged care accommodation to develop its report.

Shire president Garry Ventris said aged care was vital to the community.

“Adequate aged care is an important issue for Boddington and surrounding areas,” he said.

“The aged care sector is likely to experience significant change as a result of the Royal Commission, and the preparation of a strategy to guide the pathway to implementation is well timed with the national review.”