Peter Arney Home Refurbishment Project

The major transformation of Peter Arney Home to enhance the living environment and services for its residents, families and staff is now underway.

Residents can look forward to a contemporary home with a host of new amenities including two cafés, an outdoor TV area, a hair salon, day spa, physiotherapy room, a multi-purpose activity space, and a private dining room.

The renovation plan includes a facelift of the common areas and resident rooms, featuring a new entry façade and lobby, updated flooring, window treatments, fresh painting, and tiling in communal spaces. Additionally, all resident rooms and ensuites will see improvements, alongside a complete overhaul of the home's furniture.

In a bid to improve accessibility, the refurbishment will incorporate dementia-friendly design principles, and enhanced wayfinding throughout the home. The kitchen and servery areas are also undergoing upgrades, for a better mealtime experience

Technological advancements are also part of the upgrade, with the introduction of an updated nurse call system, IT and security system enhancements.

National construction firm West to West is leading the project after a competitive tender process. Their extensive experience in residential and commercial refurbishments positions them as a strong partner for Amana Living, working closely with site management to minimise disruption to daily life for residents.

A comprehensive briefing will be provided at the upcoming Residents and Relatives meeting which will be held at 1pm on 11 January 2024. We hope you can join us and we look forward to outlining the project in more detail. Updates will be provided at the monthly meetings until the conclusion of the project.

You can also find some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this page which we hope will answer any immediate questions you might have at this time.

If you have any questions at any point in the process, I encourage you to speak with your Service Manager, Satwinder Singh, who will always be the best source of up-to-date and accurate information.

We also encourage you to keep a lookout for the project notice board which will be displayed in reception outlining key program dates and progress notes.

We are committed to supporting all residents of Peter Arney Home to ensure everyone is comfortable and informed throughout the refurbishment process.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we deliver these exciting improvements.

Sincerely

Stephanie Buckland
Chief Executive Officer

Peter Arney Home was originally built in three stages - 2001, 2005 and 2008. It is now due for a significant refurbishment to ensure that we can offer a comfortable, contemporary home environment for our residents and their families for many years to come. The refurbishment will also provide a range of new amenities for the enjoyment of our residents.

Significant upgrades and improvements include:

• refurbishment of common areas and resident rooms including a new entry façade and lobby area, new flooring, window treatments, painting and tiling in communal areas, as well as all resident rooms and ensuites. Furniture across the home will also be updated.
• accessibility improvements incorporating dementia design principles to make it easier for people to find their way throughout the home.
• kitchen and servery upgrades which will enable us to prepare and serve a greater variety of fresh food on site.
• technology improvements including an updated nurse all system, IT system upgrades and security system upgrades.
• new services including two new cafés, an outdoor TV area, hair salon, day spa, therapy treatment room, multi-purpose activity space and private dining room.

These changes are designed to enhance the overall living experience for residents and create a modern, welcoming environment.

West to West, a national construction company with significant experience in residential and commercial refurbishments, has been awarded the project through a competitive tender process. They will work closely with the staff at Peter Arney Home to make sure that residents are comfortable and safe throughout the refurbishment project. You may notice some representatives from West to West around the home as they complete site inspections before the works commence.

Preliminary site investigations commenced in March 2024 and works are now underway and expected to take around 15 months to complete.

As with any building project, there will be some disruption, however we are taking steps to minimise the impact on residents, families and staff.

The works are being staged to limit the amount of activity taking place at one time. Initial works will impact the central areas and House 1, and then works will progress through Houses 3, 4 and 5, concluding with House 2.

Efforts will be made to minimise disruptions to the daily activities and routines of residents. While some areas may be temporarily closed for renovation, alternative arrangements and spaces will be provided to ensure that residents can continue their usual activities.

Regular communications about days when there may be increased noise and activity on site will be shared with residents and families to allow you to plan accordingly. The project team will always prioritise the wellbeing and comfort of residents during this period.

The PAH team will be planning additional bus trips and other activities on days where increased levels of noise and activity are expected to enable residents to spend time away from the home. Regular communications will be shared with residents and families to allow you to plan accordingly.

As each house undergoes refurbishment, residents of Houses 1 to 5 will be temporarily relocated to House 2 for the duration of the works on their house (up to three months) to minimise disruption to residents on a day-to-day basis.

Renovations to Armstrong House will not require residents to relocate rooms. They may need to leave their rooms for short periods to allow the workers access, but they will be able to return once the works are completed and the areas made safe.

A comprehensive plan is being developed to manage each resident’s temporary move, ensuring that they and their belongings can be moved with a minimum disruption.

Our staff will meet with each resident and their family to plan their move, and to allow the family to be involved if preferred. We know that this may be unsettling for some residents, so we will be ensuring that residents will continue to be supported by the highly skilled and caring team of Amana Living staff that they know and trust.

Great care will be taken to ensure each resident is confident and comfortable during their move, and all personal, valuable and sentimental belongings will be protected.

For our residents living with dementia, familiar faces and familiar personal belongings will be particularly important to make them comfortable through the process. Staff will be on hand to offer additional support.

Safety is our top priority. The project team will implement strict safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of residents and staff. These measures include clear signage, restricted access to construction zones and coordination with contractors to maintain a safe environment. Regular safety audits will be conducted to address any emerging concerns promptly.

During the project works, if you see anything you consider to be unsafe or a hazard, please notify a staff member immediately.

Amana Living will meet all costs associated with the temporary moves of residents during the refurbishment works. Residents and their families will not incur additional fees or charges related to the refurbishment.

Existing residents who are asked to temporarily relocate to another room and then return to their refurbished original room will not be asked to pay any higher accommodation fees.

In December we paused all new admissions and began vacating House 2 to make it available for temporary accommodations. Residents in each house will be relocated to House 2 for the duration of the works on their house (up to three months).

Throughout the project, residents will continue to be supported by the highly skilled and caring team of Amana Living staff that they know and trust. Rest assured, all permanent staff will maintain their contracted hours during the renovations, although there may be some adjustments to rosters. We recognise residents will need some extra support and reassurance during the works.

Regular updates will be provided through various communication channels, including emails, letters, monthly residents and relatives meetings, notice boards in reception with the latest progress and visuals of the completed works, as well as a webpage that will always be up-to-date with the latest information.

The project team is committed to keeping residents and families informed and addressing any concerns throughout the refurbishment process.

The project will cost approximately $10 million. It is entirely funded by Amana Living.

Experts have been involved in shaping the interiors of the building to meet the needs of residents. We’ve worked with dementia design specialist Debbie DeFiddes who has nearly 30 years’ experience in helping aged care organisations make sure the environment supports people living with dementia as well as being beautiful.

Each house will have its own theme featuring a distinct colour palette, accessories and artworks. These will act as visual prompts and reference points, helping residents to navigate their way around the building. We’ll also differentiate common areas, like the dining area or café, with their own theme too.

The local bushlands and rivers are the overall inspiration for the refurbishment, reflecting a connection to the cultural and natural heritage of the area.

We value your feedback and always view it as an opportunity to improve. For further information or to provide feedback, please speak with Satwinder Singh, Service Manager who will ensure that your query is addressed:

08 9424 6660 | pahproject@amanaliving.com.au