Construction has begun on a $5 million Sanderson Group Limited aged care facility Bethlehem, Tauranga. The former Norfolk Southern Cross Hospital, located on Cambridge Road, will be renovated and expanded to offer extensive rest home and hospital care. The new facility is expected to open by mid-January next year.
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Sanderson Group has obtained a contract with the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for 51 government funded beds. Resource consent for the project has been lodged with Tauranga City Council.
Owner Fraser Sanderson, who has three other award winning aged care developments in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions housing over 400 people, has been assessing the local market for some time, and is confident that there is a need in Tauranga for rest home and hospital level care, and that the right time is now.
"The existing facility and its location, combined with the ageing demographic of Tauranga and the expertise and experience of Sanderson Group, provide a unique and excellent care facility opportunity," he says.
"This facility is a logical addition to our existing developments. We will be able to offer our residents the full stages of care - from independent living right through to hospital care, which will give our residents a stress free graduation if more intense care if required," said Mr Sanderson.
The former hospital will be refurbished and extended in two stages, the first is expected to open by February 2011, and the second stage by May 2011. During the refurbishment stage, the company will employ approximately 30 people on site. "The proposed conversion will be very efficient and is the most logical upgrade for the existing building," said Mr Sanderson.
“The existing premise is well suited for rest home care. The facility does need work done to bring it in line with Ministry of Health standards, but it certainly has the potential," says Mr Sanderson.
The 6,000 m2 site will house 50 oversized individual rooms, most of which will have their own private ensuite, telephone, flat screen television, access to outside courtyards, and nurse call system bells. Double rooms will also be available on request for married couples. The rest home will feature elegant dining and lounge facilities with a library, outdoor courtyards and seating areas, and a hairdressers salon.
The site is directly adjacent to Bell Common reserve, close to the Cambridge Road shops, has a bus stop immediately outside the rest home, and is easily accessible from the motorway.
The catchment will be the Tauranga West area including Cambridge Heights, Bethlehem, and Bellevue. The wider catchment area will include nearby suburbs such as Te Puna, Miden, Omokoroa and beyond. At present there are a low number of rest home facilities within this zone.
Daryl Scott, managing director of the proposed rest home said, "From research conducted, there are a low number of facilities within the immediate catchment area, and it is expected that this area will experience rapid population growth rates".
On completion, the rest home will employ approximately 50 staff. "Sanderson Group is committed to providing high quality, professional care and employing qualified and compassionate staff," said Mr Sanderson.
The rest home already has one potential resident, Elsie Mills, who has been with Sanderson Group in its other villages for the past 20 years. The 96 year old is looking forward to being the first resident in yet another one of Sanderson Groups developments.
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