Not-for-profit aged care provider Scalabrini is not expected to reconsider or postpone the announced closure of the historical Scalabrini aged-care residence, located in Drummoyne, Sydney. This in spite of calls for the group’s management to reconsider their decision and engage in a consultation process with the stakeholders involved.
The building has been operating as an aged-care facility since 1999, hosting a significant number of Italian senior citizens that from September will be required to find a new accommodation, with notice given to the residents and families two weeks ago.
Among the voices asking Scalabrini to reconsider their decision is John Sidoti, state member for Drummoyne and the New South Wales Minister for multiculturalism, seniors, veterans and sport.
Scalabrini Village Source: Il Globo
“I urge the owners and the board of the Drummoyne Scalabrini Village to urgently reassess their plans to displace residents out of their aged-care facility. There needs to be a proper lengthy consultation process to ensure the health and safety of our seniors put before anything else”, Mr Sidoti told SBS Italian.
“I have not seen an issue like this in years that has galvanized our community”, he continued.
But in a written response to a request for comment, Scalabrini’s CEO Chris Glover defended the Board’s decision explaining that a different solution is not on the cards.
“More time is not the solution”, explained Mr Glover.
“We acknowledge that some of the residents and their families would like more time, but we are trying to manage this in an orderly, safe and collaborative way. Having made the decision, what we are trying to do is give people – residents, families and our staff – certainty about their future. In order to have certainty, we determined to allow up to four months, until the end of September for a period of transition”, he continued.
“Rather than helping, delaying the decision-making process will in fact exacerbate the level of stress and uncertainty for residents and our staff”, Mr Glover said.
But according to Minster Sidoti, alongside the decision to close the facility these would be an issue with the solutions proposed by Scalabrini.
“One would have thought: if there was an intention to close a facility that each and every one of those 84 residents, provisions would have benne made to relocate them nearby, in one group, so the networks are still there with their family and friends in a near proximity. This has not been done”, Mr Sidoti said.
“I am led to believe that there have been positions offered in various locations across Sydney. This is unacceptable”, he said.
Asked about the the options available for relocation of all 84 guests of the Scalabrini Drummoynd facility and the possibility to move them together in one facility in the area, Scalabrini’s CEO Chris Glover said that there are various options available:
NSW Sports Minister John Sidoti seen on stage as Sydney FC celebrates with fans after returning home with the A-League trophy in Sydney, Monday, May 20, 2019. Source: AAP
“Right now, we have enough places at all other Scalabrini Villages to accommodate every single resident. We can move almost half of the residents into our new Drummoyne facility at the moment and accommodate the others at other Scalabrini Villages if they wish. That will not always be the case. There is great demand for places in aged care and we cannot keep places vacant indefinitely: Glover said.
“We have also spoken to a number of other aged care providers in the area who are willing to take on residents who wish to remain in the area and we will assist residents who wish to do this. There are a number of options available and we will do our utmost to look after the individual needs of every resident and give them certainty about their future”, he said.
At the core of the discussion however is the wellbeing of the senior citisens living in the Scalabrini village and of their families.
According to Minister Sidoti every decision should be made in the interest of the residents.
“I am focused one thing and one thing only. The health and welfare of our seniors. Their families there that have been members of our community for many many years. They are probably our most vulnerable seniors. There has been so much trauma. I am told stories from many people of their parents suffering now as a result of uncertainty of where they are going to be moved to”, he said.
“It is just unacceptable at an age where many people at that age should not been put in, A situation that has been created by decisions made by a board”, Mr Sidoti said.
Chris Glover agrees on the fact that the wellbeing of the residents, families and staff should be at the core of every decision, and wants to reassure that those factors have been taken into account by Scalabrini:
“The decision has not been taken lightly. We know the impact of a decision like this for people who live in the home and we are doing everything we can to make this as seamless as it can be. We have been doing everything we possibly can to minimize the distress and provide certainty and comfort to residents, families and staff. After the initial shock of the announcement almost two weeks ago, we are now finding many residents and their families are keen to talk through the options available and determine the next practical steps for them and their loved ones”.
And while John Sidoti asks the Scalabrini board to “reassess their moral compass on this decision”, Chris Glover expresses his desire to reassure the minister regarding the impact of the company’s plans.
“Around that time [two weeks ago] we also spoke to one of the Minister’s advisors to provide information about the reasons for this decision so they are able to minimize any concerns and reassure the Minister’s constituents that we have taken this decision in the best interests of residents and their wellbeing, and that we are doing everything we can to provide them with certainty about their future. Our invitation to the Minister to visit and talk to us directly about this decision also remains open”.
So it appears that the Lyons Road facility will effectively be closed in September. SBS Italian asked Chris Glover about the future of the waterfront site and if it will re-developed for aged-care related purposes of if it will be put on the market.
In his written response, Chris Glover said that no decision has been made yet: “There are no plans for the site right now. No decision has been made about the future of the site. It has not been sold, nor is the site on the market”.
Wide view of Drummoyne / Canada Bay Source: Flickr/sideneiensis CC BY 2.0
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