Temora locals show just how much it means to age in place – aged care needs to meet the needs of regional as well as metropolitan areas

Temora NSW is a close-knit community of just under 5,000 people in NSW’s inland Southeast. Many who call it home have done so for their whole lives. Even those that have chosen to call it home, particularly new migrants, the verdict is unanimous, Temora is where they’ll stay. And so for the town’s many seniors who have been facing the prospect of losing their only option to age in place, concern and fear was mounting. Regional Australia cannot be left behind in the infrastructure and investment needed to meet future needs. The news of the government’s $19 million grant to Whiddon Temora has not just meant the world to them, it’s meant being able to plan to age in place in their small and cherished neck of the woods. The grant, allowing Whiddon to not only refurbish and bring up facilities to fit-for-purpose standard, but also to build much needed new beds has made an impact on the whole community, young and old alike.

Community matters

Whiddon’s CEO, Chris Mamarelis has had a unique opportunity to hear from seniors, loved-ones and advocates in rural communities across Australia. From talking to those in Temora and in countless other regional towns, one thing is ubiquitous, people love their towns, people love their community, and that affection endures no matter what age.

“In my conversations with seniors, their families, and advocates in rural communities, one key insight is consistent, as people age and require more care, they want to stay connected to the communities and people they know and love.”

Ageing, requiring more care, and needing to move into residential aged care is process of life that is complex, layered and requiring even greater levels of family and community trust and support. From already processing change of lifestyle, advocates highlight that the thought of moving away for care, from all someone has ever known, is simply terrifying for most seniors.

“For many, moving into residential aged care is already a major life transition. Being forced to leave the town you’ve lived in your entire life adds unnecessary hardship. In regional areas like Temora, Whiddon’s Homes are often the only aged care provider.”

Mamarelis continues, “if there are no vacancies, this can mean residents have to move out of the town for care, requiring families to travel long distances to visit a loved one. This reality underscores why investment in local aged care infrastructure is critical.”

Whiddon’s leadership have spent considerable time connecting with regional communities, through surveys and conversations. The feedback is clear, regional seniors and families don’t want to be, and should not be, left behind.

“Unlike metropolitan areas, where multiple options exist, regional communities rely on a single provider. Surveys and conversations strongly reinforce the need for continued investment and improvement in aged care services in rural Australia, because ageing well should never mean leaving your community behind.”

True care

While regional towns may not have the gloss and fanfare of major cities, for those that have had the pleasure and privilege to lead and work in aged care facilities in rural towns, the people and conversations have stuck with them. The care and pull of regional towns can be charmingly seen in one such story Mamarelis remembers.

“One conversation that has stayed with me was with a resident at Whiddon Temora who had spent his senior years living in a coastal town in northern NSW. When he required aged care, he made the deliberate decision to return to Temora so he could spend his final years in the town where he grew up.”

“That, to me, perfectly captures why it is so important to maintain high-quality aged care services in regional communities.”

Community and provider – support goes both ways

The ability to know and be known is a superpower in small towns, local advocates say. You can know your neighbours and within life’s ups and downs, people have your back. Temora’s municipal leadership is no different, run by local Rick Firman, the council has worked closely with Whiddon to try and figure out what they would do about the end of life aged care lodge. It has not been easy, for town leadership or the Whiddon team, long hours, grant paperwork and conversations were had over protracted years to champion the need for investment to be directed to Temora. Critically however, none of the parties was alone in that.

For other providers considering movements into regional areas, Mamarelis’ testimony can be one of significant encouragement.

“Strong local leadership also makes a real difference. Temora Council has been incredibly supportive of this project from the outset, particularly Mayor Rick Firman.”

“I don’t think he would mind me saying that when the announcement came through, he was visibly emotional. That response speaks volumes about what services like this mean to regional communities, a level of appreciation that can sometimes be lost in metropolitan settings.”

Government and providers – collaboration is key

In order to meet the gargantuan need of investment, and to do so with efficiency and sustainability, provider leadership and advocates keenly stress the need for consistent, close and robust partnerships with government to understand needs and precisely meet them.

For Mamarelis, the close partnership and conversations mean greater collaboration, more focused understanding and the ability to achieve more.

“It is absolutely critical. Through Whiddon’s Collaborative Health Project, we have consistently emphasised the importance of close collaboration between providers, government, and other stakeholders to genuinely meet the needs of regional communities.”

Where the reality of legislation makes for difficult real-world care in the aged care space, proximity and close relationships can and must underpin the direction of needed change and reform.

He notes, “the reality is that the current funding model and supporting legislation do not make it viable to develop new aged care homes in regional areas. While Whiddon is a not-for-profit organisation, we still need to generate surpluses to remain sustainable and to fund ongoing capital requirements, including building upgrades, replacement furniture and fittings, and continued investment in our model of care.”

Mamarelis shares the position of many sincere providers towards recent announcements and difficulties faced, “it was extremely encouraging to see the Federal Government release $168 million to support regional aged care providers across Australia. Without significant funding and legislative reform, it is very difficult to unlock additional beds in the regions.”

“There is growing demand in the regions, around one-third of senior Australians live in regional Australia, population migration to the regions is ongoing, and we have an ageing demographic with increasing prevalence of dementia. It is clear that strategic, long-term investment in regional aged care is essential to building the future our communities deserve.”

Provider excitement

Far from being removed in any ivory tower, much of the leadership team at Whiddon has been on the floors, in the hallways, in the rooms, talking to seniors and staff at their regional aged care centres. Particularly for Whiddon Temora, executive leadership has been closely working with the centre’s team, to work through the myriad of fears faced by all. The grant has simply been a game-changer for all levels of teams who have been persevering through the full gamut of uncertainty, fear and at times, a sense of helplessness.

“First and foremost, I am both relieved and excited that we are finally in a position to bring this project to life for the local community, our residents, and our team members. It has genuinely been a rollercoaster journey, with COVID and funding challenges previously derailing the project, so this outcome is a testament to perseverance and sustained effort.”

But Whiddon’s scope of improvement hasn’t stopped with wanting to upgrade and increase beds in Temora. In a move that some providers are turning to, opening up service offerings to innovate and improve care for seniors, Whiddon is energised to see other projects make a difference.

“Another exciting aspect, aligned with our Collaborative Health Initiative, is that NSW Health and Whiddon are delivering significant health upgrades simultaneously within the same Shire. Collectively, this will strengthen the Regional Health ecosystem and create real opportunities to work together for the benefit of the community”, Mamarelis shares.

Benefiting all ages

Oftentimes forgotten, regional towns have continued to show their metal and survive with limited resources. For the thousands that call these small towns home, the hope is for a greater achievement, they don’t want to survive, they want to thrive.

Rallying to champion their towns, supporting the providers that have proven their care and grit to provide services through the lean times, working to brief government on the needs and reward of investing in regional towns, locals of all ages have put in the work. In a fitting twist, the investment that has been worked towards is set to benefit not just seniors but all demographics.

“It is also important to note that between Whiddon and NSW Health (through the Temora Shire Hospital redevelopment), well over $100 million will be invested in the Temora Shire. This level of investment will boost the local economy, support local businesses, create employment opportunities, and drive local spend, helping Temora not just to grow, but to continue to thrive.”

Those on the ground

For the men and women who have been working at Whiddon Temora for years, it’s been at times inexplicably difficult. Seeking to provide the best in care across two separate buildings, while navigating the growing fear that there may be no capital to save one of the aged care facilities has been professionally and personally weighty.

Mamarelis shares their thoughts, on what the grant means to the managerial and front-line staff at the heart of Whiddon Temora, “the move to a new, contemporary home that consolidates the service under one roof has been warmly embraced by the team, who are looking forward to finally working together in a single, purpose-built environment.”

“Their beautiful town”

For most of the staff at Whiddon Temora, the matter of the centre’s future is heartfelt, both professionally and personally.

“Among the team members I have spoken to, there is a strong sense of relief from those who have been on this journey for some time, as well as genuine excitement about the renewed attention for their beautiful town through both the Whiddon development and the NSW Health project.”

“Most importantly, there is a shared sense of pride and optimism about what this investment will mean for the elders living at Whiddon Temora today and well into the future.”