Australia’s Kilkivan seeks funding for housing for older people
In the Australian town of Kilkivan, a community organization plans to build transitional housing for older people who are moving from large landholdings but are not yet ready to live in a care facility. Kilkivan and District Community Care Association Incorporated is seeking funding for the project at all levels of government, ABC News Australia reports.
The organization’s president, Rosie Fitzgerald, said older residents of the region effectively have two options: live independently at home, often with limited support, or move to a care facility outside the area. According to her, the second option may mean becoming separated from familiar social connections.
A house near the community centre
The project involves building a house with five bedrooms and five bathrooms on a vacant plot next to the community centre. The Gympie Regional Council designated the land for aged-care purposes. The rooms are planned to be rented out to make living arrangements more flexible.
The association already provides in-home care and community transport services. Fitzgerald described the new initiative as a model that would allow older people to remain in their community for longer. She also believes that a pilot project could demonstrate the possibility of reducing government spending.
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Support and funding
The initiative was supported by 94-year-old National Seniors Association founder Everald Compton, who travelled from Brisbane to Kilkivan. He said the model could be replicated in small communities across Australia.
Associate Professor Sophie Andrews of the University of the Sunshine Coast, who leads neurocognition in the Healthy Ageing Brain Research Program, said ageing in a familiar place is optimal from social, medical and economic perspectives. According to her, people who move from their home or local environment to care facilities often deteriorate more quickly than those who can remain at home.
The construction cost has not yet been determined. A spokesperson for federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said grants of up to $300 million are available to eligible service providers, but independent living projects such as the Kilkivan initiative fall under the jurisdiction of state authorities. A spokesperson for state Minister for Seniors Amanda Camm said funding for the project was not provided for.
The association also received $84,000 through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The funds will be directed toward improving the accessibility of the community centre for people with disabilities.
