Superior Care Group’s residential aged care service, Wellington Park Private Care, today completed its three-yearly accreditation, achieving 100% compliance over 44 standards

“I am extremely proud of Wellington Park’s management team and staff, in particular our Head of Operations, Karlene Burns,” said Company Director, Russell Egan Jnr. “The entire team has invested an enormous amount of energy into preparing for our accreditation visit, and I held confidence in their success. We pride ourselves on exceling in every aspect of residential aged care, accreditation to us is an essential part of this continuous improvement process.”

“Thank you to all Wellington Park staff for taking pride in their workplace – our residents’ home. We love our residents and want them to enjoy their time with us. And to our customers – I can guarantee you that Superior Care Group will continue working to improve the quality of our service every day.”

Russell Egan Jnr
COMPANY DIRECTOR
SUPERIOR CARE GROUP

Poor government funding, tough credit conditions delay Merrimac project

Due to poor government funding, unsustainable construction costs and a tightening in global and domestic credit conditions, Superior Care Group’s 96 place residential aged care development has been delayed until a willing lender can be secured. Westpac Bank recently advised that the Merrimac project is not viable based on the projected income against cost to construct.

The project currently holds all required planning and development approvals for the commencement of construction however without the necessary additional $20m in bank finance the project cannot proceed. Superior Care Group owns the 12 acre project site and remains committed to pursuing the project as soon as bank finance is secured.

“In the present economic climate, construction prices compared to income provided by the Commonwealth government has made building new aged care service unviable in the eyes of the big lenders,” said Company Director, Russell D. Egan. “Five years ago a service cost $100,000 per bed to construct and now we are estimating this project will cost over $180,000 per bed. Meanwhile operator costs have outstripped funding every year for the last 10 years and profits are lower than ever.”

“Lending conditions are stricter than we have seen in the last 30 years and banks are not willing to accept projects that are experiencing a reduction in real income. The most important message to our customers and the Gold Coast ageing community is that we are not giving up. We will continue to refine our project costs and lobby Canberra for improved aged care funding. One way or another this service will be built!”

“If the Commonwealth Government is able to assist the industry by improving funding, providers can continue preparing for the needs of our ageing population, otherwise allocated beds will simply remain unbuilt. It’s a pretty simple choice. We have written to the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, and await her response.”

Superior Care Group was allocated 94 places for its Merrimac project in the 2006 Aged Care Approval Round. Superior Care Group, which has been an approved provider of aged care since 1979, also owns and operates Wellington Park Private Care in Brisbane and the 123 Grow Childcare Group.

Russell D. Egan
Company Director
Superior Care Group Pty Ltd

Superior Care Group Media Release – Merrimac Private Care

Superior Care Group is excited to announce it has secured development approval for its proposed 128 place residential aged care service at Merrimac on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The development approval issued by Gold Coast City Council on 20 June 2008, provides for a two stage development at 50-52 Macadie Way, Merrimac. Stage one, which will commence construction immediately, comprises 2 care facilities servicing 64 and 32 residents respectively, an administration, commercial laundry, commercial kitchen, caretaker dwellings and Superior Care Group’s unique Eden Farm concept. Merrimac Private Care will offer low, high and dementia care in luxury, single room ensuite accommodation. Stage one of the developement will be completed by September 2009. The second stage which will be the subject of future Aged Care Allocation Round (ACAR) applications comprises two additional 32 place facilities.

Superior Care Group was allocated 94 places for its Merrimac project in the 2006 ACAR. Superior Care Group, which has been an approved provider of aged care since 1979, also owns and operates Wellington Park Private Care in Brisbane and the 123 Grow Childcare Group. Please visit www.superiorcare.com.au for further information.

Russell D. Egan
Company Director
Superior Care Group Pty Ltd

Wellington Park renews 3 year accreditation with 100% score

Superior Care Group is proud to advise its residents and relatives that the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency has decided to renew Wellington Park Private Care’s accreditation for a further 3 years to 2010. The Agency recently completed its 3 day inspection of Wellington Park and found the service was 100% compliant, meeting all 44 of the legislated standards.

“I am extremely proud of the achievement of all our staff and thank them for taking pride in our service and for loving and caring for our residents,” said Director, Russell Egan Jnr. “In particular, this outstanding compliance result could not have been delivered without the hard work of Superior Care’s management team, Karlene Burns and Rachel Forsyth.”

“Our residents and relatives can expect Superior Care to continue improving its service and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Anyone in the Superior Care family whether it be staff, residents or relatives can come to any one of our management team, including myself, and tell us where we can improve.”

Russell D. Egan (LLB)
Company Director
Superior Care Group Pty Ltd

Wellington Park Private Care, a leading aged care service

Recent media attention has brought to light the safety of seniors in approved residential aged care. Superior Care Group is proud to advise its residents and relatives that Wellington Park Private Care is fully accredited and in compliance with aged care legislation. Wellington Park’s present accreditation is current until September 2007 and our staff are busily preparing for our accreditation renewal visit. A recent unannounced spot check from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency found that Wellington Park continued to be fully compliant.

Superior Care Group is proud of its reputation as an outstanding residential aged care provider and our residents and relatives can relax knowing they and their loved ones are in safe hands.

Russell D. Egan
Company Director
Superior Care Group Pty Ltd

Minister’s Enquiry Finds No Wrongdoing

Superior Care Group was pleased to hear today that the Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne MP, has concluded his investigation into the South Coast Region of the 2006 Aged Care Allocation Round (ACAR). The enquiry concluded that nothing untoward occurred within the ACAR process. SCG has asserted at all times that it did not deal with then-Minister Santo Santoro in an improper fashion. SCG reiterates that at no stage did it ever meet with the Minister or Ministerial staffers. The ACAR’s process was strictly followed and SCG has complete faith in the integrity of Departmental and Ministerial staff.

The Courier Mail’s baseless slurs attempted to sully SCG’s respected community reputation. Furthermore it was wrong and unethical of the Courier Mail to allege the Minister’s impropriety without any evidence.

Superior Care Group has been in the aged care industry since 1979 and intends to remain in the aged care industry, improving its services and finding new sites to develop more facilities for the community.

Russell D. Egan
Company Director
Superior Care Group Pty Ltd