Presbyterian Support says it is ''ahead of the game'' in meeting demand for aged-care accommodation in Alexandra and has an expansion planned to its Ranui complex.
The lack of rest-home, hospital and dementia care beds in Central Otago has been under the spotlight in recent times.
Plans were revealed last week for a proposed retirement village at Alexandra and planning is well under way for another retirement village at Clyde, which hinges on a zoning change.
Presbyterian Support Otago chief executive Gillian Bremner said the organisation was ''not sitting on its hands'', citing plans for an extension to the Ranui aged-care complex in Alexandra.
''Land is already set aside and it is envisaged that tenders will be called within the next few months to expand Ranui Court retirement village in Alexandra.
''Initially, four homes will be constructed with others to follow as demand increases.''
When the Aspiring Enliven Care Centre in Wanaka opened next year, pressure for rest-home, hospital and dementia care across the wider Central Otago region, including Alexandra and Clyde, would be alleviated, she said.
The organisation had joined forces with the owners of Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village in Wanaka to build the three-stage $15 million care centre, which would more than double the number of aged-care beds in that area.
The first stage also included a 20-bed dementia facility, along with 19 rest-home/hospital beds and an Upper Clutha Hospice Trust suite.
''We expect that the new facility will mean that people from Wanaka will be able to seek care in their own district, thereby freeing up hospital and dementia rooms at Ranui,'' Mrs Bremner said.
