Mayor seeks certainty for aged care in Inglewood

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Lawrence Springborg AM is seeking certainty on behalf of the Inglewood community about the continuation of aged care in the town.

Cr Springborg said he had received numerous calls over recent days from residents concerned about the potential closure of the Churches of Christ Care Inglewood Aged Care Service, where some families have reportedly been advised to prepare to relocate their loved one to another facility outside the Goondiwindi region.

Council has since sought confirmation about the future of the Inglewood facility from Churches of Christ Care (CoCC), a national organisation that operates 28 residential aged care services across Queensland.

A representative from the organisation has acknowledged the anxiety felt by Inglewood families about the current low occupancy, but insisted to Council that the Inglewood Aged Care Service is continuing to take new bookings.

Cr Springborg said the residents, their family members, and the staff of the CoCC Inglewood Aged Care Service all deserved more certainty about the future of the facility.

“Certainly this is a very emotive subject and frankly I don’t think the response given so far has been good enough,” Cr Springborg said.

“I’m also advised by Churches of Christ Care that the Inglewood Aged Care Service is experiencing low occupancy and is currently rostering their staff accordingly. While I acknowledge that CoCC has to make financial considerations about each of its facilities, I am asking that they give the community in Inglewood the transparency and certainty they need to make informed decisions about the future of their - and their loved ones’ - care.

“As a Council, we will be continuing to advocate for the provision of an aged care service in Inglewood,” the Mayor said.

Residents who require more information should contact Steve Webster, Churches of Christ Care - Director of Communications and Marketing, on 0433 142 215.