By Jessica Anstice and Mitchell Clarke
Millhaven Lodge is enlisting the support of Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood, in securing grants to refurbish its decaying adjacent building.
The Pakenham nursing home is hoping to receive 16 new beds, with 12 licenced and four transferrable, to revitalise the old facility.
Manager Linda Austen says the empty space is in dire need of attention, currently infested by possums and other rodents, stating it’ll provide more opportunity to cater for the south east’s growing population.
“We’ve extended and expanded but now we want to expand into the old hospital ward,” she said.
“We need the beds, we’re ready to go. We’re full all the time.”
Currently, Millhaven Lodge is home to high care, low care, respite and dementia patients, servicing a total of 104 residents with an increasing waiting list.
The nursing home hasn’t received any grants or building funding for 20 years with Mr Wood calling on the relevant minister to visit the facility.
“Aged care falls into an entirely separate funding area,” Mr Wood said.
“We don’t want to see people who’ve lived here and loved the area be forced to move because there is simply not enough space here.”
It’s predicted the works to refurbish the existing facility will cost upwards of $2.5 million.
