(03) 5561 9300
31 May 2023
Lyndoch Living today announced it would close the May Noonan residential aged care facility in Terang and explore alternative operating models for its main Lyndoch facility in Warrnambool as Lyndoch Living has experienced long-term skills shortage which is further impacted by the 24/7 registered nurse requirement.
Lyndoch has determined that May Noonan’s building, which opened in 1979 and offers single-room accommodation for up to 40 residents, is no longer fit-for-purpose in meeting expectations of aged care accommodation. Existing residents and families have been notified of the closure and Lyndoch has committed to assist their residents transition to alternative accommodation locally.
Lyndoch Chair, Sue Cassidy, said the Board had no option but to close May Noonan given the difficulties attracting skilled staff and the declining occupancy experienced over the last 18 months.
“Increasingly older people prefer to remain in their own home and this has impacted occupancy levels at May Noonan which results in concerns about the safety outcomes for residents,” Ms Cassidy said.
“We have tried everything to make May Noonan work. While the most recent Commission audit showed significant improvements in care standards at the facility, we could not be confident these improvements could be maintained over the long term given the difficulties finding staff.”
“The Board decided therefore that the best option was to transition May Noonan residents to alternative accommodation at Lyndoch Living in Warrnambool or their facility of choice. The Board intends now to sell the May Noonan site and focus on securing a long-term future for the larger Lyndoch facility in Warrnambool.”
“May Noonan residents will always have a home with Lyndoch Living and its staff can be assured that their entitlements are intact. We want to ensure that the resident’s home environment can be the best possible” she said.
Offering a large number of accommodation places at its site overlooking Hopkins River in Warrnambool Lyndoch is the largest provider of public aged care beds in the South West Region of Victoria.
“It is critical that the essential service Lyndoch provides in southwest Victoria remains available well into the future,” Ms Cassidy said.
