Shepparton Villages closing Hakea Lodge aged care home

By Anna McGuinness

Feb 1, 2023

Change: Shepparton Villages chief executive Veronica Jamison says its residential aged care operations are being consolidated to Banksia Lodge, Maculata Place and Mooroopna Place. Photo by Contributed

Shepparton Villages has made the “difficult” decision to decommission one of its residential care homes, Hakea Lodge, citing reasons including the building’s non-compliance with current standards.

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The 34 residents of Hakea Lodge will be given the option to relocate to Shepparton Villages’ other homes at Maculata Place, Banksia Lodge or Mooroopna Place, or seek a new arrangement externally.

Established in 1984, the 57-bed Hakea Lodge is part of Tarcoola Village on Batman Ave, Shepparton, and will close on April 4.

According to a statement from Shepparton Villages, the board’s decision to close the home was due to the condition and age of the building, an inability to attract residents to the home, and continued staffing shortages.

Shepparton Villages said Hakea Lodge no longer complied with certification requirements and standards for aged care buildings, and bringing it up to the new standards would be too costly and disruptive.

“In the interests of continuing to provide quality care in contemporary settings, Shepparton Villages is consolidating its residential aged care operations into its other three aged care homes, Banksia Lodge, Maculata Place and Mooroopna Place,” Shepparton Villages chief executive Veronica Jamison said.

Residents who choose to move to another Shepparton Villages home will be relocated between February 15 and April 3.

Shepparton Villages said it was committed to ensuring the closure of Hakea Lodge was carried out in a respectful, caring, professional and orderly manner and, where possible, staff would have the opportunity to take on vacant shifts within the organisation.