Mercy Health has commenced construction on a new integrated seniors precinct that will bring retirement living, home care and residential aged care together in onecommunity, helping meet growing demand for seniors housing and care on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
The Mercy Health Rosebud Integrated Seniors Precinct will include 71 retirement livingresidences and 124 residential aged care suites, providing accommodation for more than 200 residents upon completion.
Dignitaries at the breaking of ground for Mercy Health’s new aged care precinct on the Mornington Peninsula. PHOTO:Mercy Health
Construction was officially marked with a sod-turning ceremony on Wednesday, September 2, attended by Mercy Health representatives, residents, families, staff, government representatives, aged care sector stakeholders and members of the local community.
The ceremony included an official blessing led by Fr Andrzej Madry CR, Parish Priest of Good Shepherd Parish, Mulgrave, and St Justin's Parish, Wheelers Hill, and Episcopal Vicar for the Southern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The sod turning marks a new chapter in the site's more than 75-year history of caring for older people in Rosebud.
Originally home to Lotus Lodge, a holiday camp overlooking Port Phillip Bay, the property was purchased by the Victorian Government in 1951 to establish a self-contained community for older people. It later became Rosebud Residential Aged Care Services and Southern Cross Care Rosebud, before Mercy Health took over operations at Mercy Place Rosebud.
Mercy Health CEO Gavin Young said the new precinct would build on this legacy while providing a contemporary approach to ageing.
"As people grow older, their needs can change, but they shouldn't have to leave behind the people, places and community that make life meaningful," Mr Young said.
"By bringing retirement living ,residential aged care and home care together, we can provide the right support at the right time while helping people remain independent, connected and engaged in their community."
"It is an important expression of Mercy Health's Healthy Ageing approach - putting the person at the centre and creating a place where people can live well throughout their ageing journey."
The precinct will feature a contemporary small-household model of residential aged care, alongside shared amenities including an indoor pool, gym, restaurant and cafe, and landscaped outdoor spaces.
Demand is growing as the Mornington Peninsula's population ages, with 33.2 per cent of residents in the broader Rosebud-McRae region aged 65 and over.'The Peninsula's retirement-age population is forecast to increase by 18.4 per cent between 2021 and 2031, increasing demand for housing, care and services."
The development forms part of Mercy Health's broader investment in the Mornington Peninsula and complements the region's growing health and care ecosystem, including the nearby
Rosebud Health Hub, which brings together hospital, community health, mental health and allied health services.
The precinct has also been designed with sustainability in mind, including fossil-fuel-free operations, energy-efficient design, water reuse and biodiversity measures, alongside native coastal landscaping and Indigenous vegetation.
"This is an investment in how we want older people to live in the future, with greater choice, connection and access to care when they need it," Mr Young said.
"It also represents a significant long-term investment in the Mornington Peninsula, adding much-needed capacity while creating local jobs and supporting the region's growing health and care sector."
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2028, with the first residents expected to move in from early 2029.
This article is drawn from a media release from Mercy Health.