The Macara Unit will initially open in August with 10 beds, with the remaining 14 beds to open over a staged period of two to three months, as staff are recruited and trained.
Enliven director Sally O’Connor said staff recruitment was under way, with the search on for nurses and healthcare assistants locally and across New Zealand and overseas.
The newly appointed Macara Unit nurse manager Shamal Rai has a background in aged care as a registered nurse and long-standing nursing experience in Fiji.
Major renovation is under way at the Macara Unit site, which formerly housed Ross Home’s Lindsay Unit, with new paint, wallpaper, blinds, carpet and bathroom renovations added to make it warm and inviting for residents.
The unit has been named after Opoho woman Betty Macara, who was matron of Ross Home for many years and then became a resident, living to 102 years old.
The name was suggested by Ross Home healthcare assistant Karen Gilder, and the Macara family is delighted the new unit is to be named after their aunty.
The Macara Unit will provide both hospital-level care and a small number of rest-home level beds, and will bring the number of beds at Ross Home to 124.
Presbyterian Support Otago chief executive Jo O’Neill said the facility was much-needed in the face of growing demand for hospital-level care as the population aged and more people were unable to remain in their own homes.
"Providing quality care to older people is something we have been doing for a very long time and while the sector remains underfunded, it is a privilege for PSO to look after our vulnerable residents," Ms O’Neill said.
The facility included a large room suitable for a couple or, depending on vacancies, adjoining rooms could be arranged, meaning a couple did not need to be at the same level of care to stay together.
Ms O’Neill said recruitment of staff had been a challenge.
However, with the Government announcing pay parity for aged care nurses with their counterparts in public hospitals, it was hoped that finding suitable staff would get a little easier.
"It’s essential we have a workforce that are well-qualified and supported to provide the specialist care needed in the new unit. We have plans to ensure this is achieved," she said.
Ms O’Connor said providing specialist care to older people required dedication and compassion, as well as the necessary healthcare training.
PSO offered a pathway for healthcare assistants to achieve Level 3 and 4 qualification, and also supported those who wanted to train to become nurses. Further training for nurses was encouraged, including post graduate education.
Mr Rai is pursuing a master of advanced nursing practice and medical technology at the Xiangya School of Nursing in Changsha, China.
He has obtained an advanced diploma of leadership and management from NSW Australia, and a bachelor of science in nursing and diploma of science in nursing in Fiji.
