New multigenerational healthcare precinct opens

TLC Healthcare has opened a multigenerational healthcare precinct, which encompasses a 147-place aged care home, an early learning centre and integrated health services, in Mordialloc, Victoria.

The facility features a medical centre with allied health services, a health club with Technogym equipment and offering yoga, Pilates and group fitness classes, a 20 m warm water pool and The Village Café — supplying coffee, food and an atmospheric environment designed to bring people together.

“Our healthcare model is about providing the community with integrated healthcare services. Nowhere in Australia will you find an aged care home, medical centre, commercial health club, early learning centre and a commercial cafe in one location,” TLC Healthcare’s CEO, Lou Pascuzzi, said.

Pascuzzi also highlighted the benefit of having GPs on-site to both patients and practitioners.

“Currently, GPs and other health service providers are becoming less able to visit aged care homes because they feel Medicare benefits do not compensate for travel and time away from their practices. The opportunity costs for GPs being absent from their regular medical centre make residential aged care visits untenable.

“The TLC model provides timely availability of professional clinical care to our residents when they need it, rather than when a GP can visit, as well as minimising the use of locums.”

The early learning centre has been developed in consultation with The University of Melbourne and Griffith University to deliver an innovative intergenerational program through which the children and aged care residents will enrich each other’s lives. The centre has a capacity of 119 children aged between six months and six years.

The centre offers a holistic and inclusive approach to health and wellbeing. “For example, a parent may drop their child off at the early learning centre, then visit their Mum or Dad in our aged care home. They might then attend an appointment with their GP at our medical centre and then hit the gym for a workout or a swim, followed by a healthy smoothie or lunch at The Village Café. Importantly, they’re not travelling across town to access these exceptional services — they’re all co-located, which is incredibly convenient,” Pascuzzi said.

“Not only do we provide a great place to live and services to utilise and experience, but they’re also a great place to work. Our vision for health care is to provide a multidisciplinary platform in one place, with as many relative services available as possible, which we firmly believe delivers abundant consumer choice and a robust care continuum.” Similar developments in Ivanhoe and Hallam are in the pipeline.

Kingston Council Mayor Cr Hadi Saab and Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Hill were among the guests at the event. In his official address, Mayor Cr Hadi Saab welcomed TLC’s innovative healthcare services to the City of Kingston, noting the positive impacts that accessible healthcare and local employment opportunities bring to the community.

L to R: Patsy Thomas (COO, TLC Aged Care), Jenny Foley (CQO, TLC Aged Care), Danusia Schmitz (Exec Mgr, TLC Primary Care), Lou Pascuzzi (CEO, TLC Healthcare), Mayor Cr Hadi Saab (Kingston Council), Jill Li (GM, TLC Aged Care Whitewater).

Images: Supplied.