A new aged care village planned for the site of the former Hokitika racecourse site is to include a rest home, hospital and specialised dementia care. Photo: 123rf
A proposal to build the West Coast region's only aged care village will benefit all ages in the region, a local mayor says.
Radius Residential Care has been granted approval in principle by Westland District Council for a new aged-care home and village on part of the former Hokitika racecourse site.
The facility will have an 80-bed care facility, a 50-villa retirement village, and home care services. It will include a rest home, hospital and specialised dementia care.
Westland Mayor Helen Lash said currently there are no aged care villages on the West Coast, and sometimes that means people needing such facilities leave the West Coast all together.
"When we lose retirees to the East Coast its because they [are] looking for a facility like this, and it's generally not long after they go that their children, and their children, go too, so we lose three generations just like that.
"This will mean that the kids and grandkids can stay here, they can visit and people don't lose the home, the region, that they have grown up in."
She said it can be heartbreaking for people if one half of a couple has to move to Christchurch for the nearest care facility, and the other person is still on the West Coast.
"The nice thing about a retirement village with a hospital is, if one person is in a home and the other in a hospital, they can still walk over to visit their loved one," said Lash.
She said the facility will also be able to take in elderly people who need to leave hospital, but aren't quite ready to head home.
The proposed development will be built in collaboration with East West Developments Limited's Crestview Estate.
Radius Care chief executive Andrew Peskett said the approval marks a major step in the company's ambition to serve the Coast.
"Radius Care has been keen to expand to the West Coast and has considered sites previously, but none have been suitable. The old racecourse site is ideally placed for this development, and we are excited about becoming an integral part of the Hokitika community," Peskett said.
Radius Care said planning and detailed design will now start, with consultation to follow.
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