Southern Cross Care selects Unicare as preferred aged-care equipment provider for Southern Plus East Fremantle Aged Care Centre
Southern Plus East Fremantle
15 Wolsely Road, East Fremantle
Unicare Health would like to congratulate Southern Cross Care on the successful redevelopment of the former Kaleeya hospital site. The all-new Southern Plus East Fremantle Aged Care Centre combines the very best in residential aged care with integrated health and wellness services all within a luxury setting.
Unicare Health is very thankful to have been selected as the preferred aged care equipment provider for this 84-bed, outstanding aged care centre project.
Developing Southern Plus East Fremantle
In 2014, the state government-owned Kaleeya Hospital in East Fremantle was sold for 17.5million as part of the West Australian government’s asset sales program to reduce debt. The 10000 sqm Kaleeya Hospital site, with a 40 year rich history of providing health and medical services to the community, was sold to Southern Cross Care (WA) Inc to be redeveloped and renovated into an outstanding and innovative, next-generation aged care centre.
Southern Plus is part of the Southern Cross Care (WA) Inc. Group, one of Western Australia’s largest and leading aged care providers. For over 50 years, Southern Cross Care has been committed to helping West Australians access a range of care services through in-home support services or at one of their retirement villages or residential aged care facilities. Southern Cross Care currently cares for more than 3000 Western Australians and employs over 1000 staff.
Southern Plus East Fremantle
Southern Plus was created in response to the need to offer West Australia’s ageing population, next generation aged care services. Southern Plus East Fremantle offers advanced care planning to support frail aged and people living with advanced dementia. The centre also includes a state of the art health and wellness centre with a hydropool, gym and allied health specialist services.
Southern Plus East Fremantle was designed by SPH architecture and interiors and built by Cooper and Oxley Constructions.
Delivering next-generation residential aged care
The latest Southern Plus East Fremantle aged care centre delivers contemporary integrated health and wellness within a luxurious aged care living environment.
There are dementia-friendly spaces to support a welcoming and caring environment for both residents and staff, incorporating outdoor areas such as courtyards and gardens designed specifically for those with dementia. There are balcony and outdoor spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, safe and functional.
On the ground floor, you will find a state of the art health, wellness and rehabilitation centre.
Residents have access to onsite GPs, Gerontologists and allied health.
There are beautiful dining rooms that residents and their families can enjoy, a posh hair dressing salon for that occasional treat and even a cinema for daily entertainment.
Residents rooms are designed to convey a premium hotel like environment. Private en suites, individual heating and cooling, flat-screen televisions and balcony or courtyard access are a feature of many private care rooms.
Project Highlights
Equipment Selection
The Southern Plus East Fremantle project involved careful clinical considerations during the equipment selection process. Intelligent innovation and technology that delivers independence, mobility and safety were considerations that influenced the equipment selection process for this modern innovative aged care living centre.
Resident Rooms
Wissner Bosserhoff’s low nursing care beds coupled with pressure care mattresses from Care of Sweden were selected for resident rooms in this modern aged care centre.
Winner of the internationally renowned red-dot award and Plus X award for high quality, functionality and ergonomics, the Sentida 5 universal low nursing care beds feature resident and caregiver safety, pressure injury prevention, integrated bed extension capabilities, smart user handsets that promote resident mobility and a night light function for safe navigation in the dark. It’s 50 mm double castors that are completely covered by a cozy undercarriage cladding and concealed side guards totally remove the traditional clinical feel of a nursing care bed.
Care of Sweden’s Optimal 5zon pressure care mattresses were selected for its clinically proven effective pressure ulcer prevention capabilities and resident comfort. These mattresses are equipped with a unique DuoCore sit-function designed to give support when sitting and also to provide good comfort when lying. Anti-shear inner covers enhances user comfort and skin integrity protection. It’s durable cover is easy to clean and comes with a very well documented hygienic standard. Being a sustainable product, the Optimal 5zon is produced from modern, recyclable materials and meets health care requirements for hygiene, quality and safety.
Everyday Living and Mobility
To support residents hygiene and safety needs, a range of bathroom and toileting equipment was carefully selected based on their clinical functionalities.
Shower commodes from Juvo Solutions were chosen to assist with transportation of patients with limited mobility for showering and toileting. Juvo shower commodes are well known for their durability and for being an easy and adaptable commode. A popular choice for hospitals and aged care facilities, they feature grade 304 stainless steel robust frame and a durable design to withstand extensive wet area use.
Shower chairs, over toilet frames and other bathroom safety aids were selected to prevent unnecessary accidents during wet area use.
Australian manufactured Alto patient lifting hoists by Allegro Concepts with electric leg spreads were chosen for their renowned durability, ease of use, outstanding lift range, resident & carer safety features and superior infection control design.
Ansa Salsa 200 standing hoists with electric leg spreads were selected to assist with standing transfers. This stable and compact standing hoist mimics natural sit-to-stand movements and provides exceptional maneuverability. It is a popular choice in an aged care environment for assisting with resident transfer between beds, wheelchairs, commodes and chairs.
A selection of durable wheelchairs and other mobility aids were also chosen to assist with resident mobility.
Project Organisation
The Southern Plus East Fremantle project involved months of preparation work and diligently coordinating equipment to arrive timely from all over the world.
One of the unforeseen challenges we faced during the project was the need to set aside floor space to warehouse 84 beds and a large suite of aged care equipment during the months that their builder went into administration and stopped all building work.
By reshuffling other major projects in the pipeline, we managed to eliminate the cost and inconveniences of additional warehousing for Southern Plus which fitted in with our values of ‘going further‘ and ‘to match optimal solutions for specific needs’.
To match the interior design and colour scheme of the rooms, the head and footboards for the Sentida 5 nursing beds had to be custom made in a high pressure Lamitek pattern surface featuring the GREENGUARD certification for indoor air quality and Green Label Singapore certification for low emissions and low toxicity.
To provide Southern Plus with a streamlined equipment delivery solution and to minimise installation work on site, 84 Sentida 5 nursing beds and Care of Sweden pressure care mattresses were unboxed, assembled, tested, tagged, stored undercover in our warehouse and then transported to East Fremantle in stages to suit the building progress.
A suite of brand new equipment was assembled by our operations team, tested, tagged and delivered to the project site on 11 June 2018.
Other furniture such as bedside commodes and care chairs were wrapped in designer grade fabric prints to suit the unique style of the rooms.
Equipment and safety training for the carers at Southern Plus East Fremantle was led by Annette Terranova, occupational therapist and trainer at Unicare Health on 22 June 2018.
Another Happy Customer
“We are thrilled to have delivered another successful aged care equipment fit-out project for Southern Cross Care.”
Today’s aged care providers face a number of dynamic environmental challenges including rapid healthcare technological advancements, management of knowledgeable care staff and an increased demand for world-class aged care services in a modern setting.
At Unicare Health, we’ve differentiated ourselves as an equipment provider in many ways to address the challenges that care providers face in delivering aged-care.
Our ability to deliver world-class, award-winning equipment solutions to suit organisational demands in a streamlined approach, being mindful about safe and sustainable outcomes for care staff and residents and the delivery of long term equipment value has contributed to our strong track record for aged care fit-out projects.
Unicare Health is currently involved in several major healthcare equipment projects for hospitals and aged care facilities in Western Australia. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected.
