March 6, 2013
Closure of Kingaroy’s Farrhome aged care facility is ahead of schedule with just three residents left in the facility.
southburnett.com.au has been told two of these residents will soon be transferred to Canowindra in Kingaroy while the remaining patient is expected to be transferred to Forest View at Wondai. The closure could come within days or weeks, but this cannot be confirmed.
[UPDATE March 7, 2013: As of this morning, there is only one resident left at Farrhome.]
Cr Cheryl Dalton, a member of the Darling Downs Regional Health Service Board, said today she expected Farrhome would be closing sooner than originally expected.
“In November 2012 we introduced a policy of no new admission to Farrhome. We have been working with residents of Farrhome and with their families. This process of consultation has resulted in the majority of people relocating from Farrhome,” she said.
“We will continue to work respectfully with current residents and their families. The only timeline that has been set is that, because of the Fire Safety regulations, Farrhome cannot operate beyond September 2014.”
However she said the facility would stay open until everyone is “happily rehoused”.
“It is possible that the remaining residents will relocate before that time but the service does not wish to do anything to pressure these residents into an earlier time frame,” she said.
There were 13 residents in the facility in November last year when the announcement was made that Farrhome would close in 2014.
Since that time, some have relocated to other facilities and others have died.
The closure of Farrhome is due to new fire safety standards which will apply to residential aged care facilities from September 2014.
Last year’s announcement was greeted with protests by local nursing staff. Promises were made at the time that no staff would be made redundant by the closure.
There has been no decision yet as to how the Farrhome building will be used.
“Out of respect for residents and families there has been no formal discussion or decision on the future use of the building. However the priority will be to provide non-admitted clinical services in the building in the future,” Cr Dalton said.
“The building name will continue to recognise Matron Farr into the future.”
Griffith University has teaching facilities located near to the building but they will not be shifting into the space.
“The university has dedicated accommodation and teaching facilities, so will not be based in the building. It is possible that some students may undertake clinical training in the building in the future,” Cr Dalton said.
UPDATE March 7, 2013 – As of this morning, there is only one resident left at Farrhome.
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