New homes for seniors in Tuart Hill

10/6/2000

Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames today opened a new, purpose-built senior's complex in Tuart Hill.
The 10 units were built through the Ministry of Housing at a cost of $756,000.

"It is part of the Government's commitment towards ensuring seniors remain in independent accommodation as long as they wish to," Dr Hames said.
'The Minister said the units had been designed with the Health Department's 'Stay on Your Feet' program in mind, which aimed to remove as many hazards to older people as possible.

"People reaching their senior years should be enjoying their leisure time, not slaving over the housework, struggling with the stairs or tending big, overgrown gardens if they do not wish to," he said.

"It's a time of life when seniors can take a break after years of hard work and these units should ensure there is plenty of leisure time available."
Dr Hames said the amount of senior's accommodation being built by the Ministry of Housing throughout Western Australia confirmed the aging population trend.

"It also means the Ministry is meeting the demands of safe housing for those who might not be as agile as they once were," he said.
Dr Hames said almost nowhere else in WA was the rise in the number of seniors more clearly reflected in the electorate of Yokine.
"One quarter of the electorate is over 60 and 45 per cent are over 50, which makes it the second oldest in terms of population age in WA," he said.
"Seniors make up a quarter of Homeswest tenants and, because of this, the agency has become adept at building exceptional accommodation to cater for their specific needs.
"The housing for seniors provided through the Ministry rates among some of the best in the country with great attention to security and safety."
Dr Hames said that while seniors often used retirement to try new activities, this did not usually include a desire to leave the area that they may have called home for many years.
"However, they may not necessarily be able, or even want, to stay in their family home as it may have become too large and difficult to manage safely," he said.
As a Health Department's 'Stay on Your Feet' project, those difficulties and hidden dangers, which can lead to falls or bumps, have been eliminated.
Residents will not have to negotiate narrow passageways and doors, there are no hobs in the showers, sliding doors are flush with the floor, kitchen bench-tops are rounded and there is extra lighting with the strategic placement of windows.
The units were designed by architect Greg Sharp from Sharp and Van Rhyn and built by Con-Struct's Gino Scaffidi.
Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450
MOH: Bev Wilcox on 9222 4885