A message signed by Scalabrini CEO, Chris Grover, was sent to families and residents and dated Wednesday, June 12.
It announced the closure of the historical Scalabrini residence, located in Drummoyne at 1A Lyons Road.
An aged care home since 1999, the historic building was purchased by Scalabrini from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Since then it has housed, among others, a sizeable Italian community.
From September, they are required to have found new accommodation.
The message, which specified Scalabrini Drummoyne’s closing date as at the end of September, made reference to degradation of the structure which “renders [the building] no longer adequate, given all the necessary actions required, including minor maintenance and complex restructuring activities”.
When questioned by Il Globo, Grover confirmed the degraded aspect of the structure.
“The building is over 60 years old and requires extensive, continuous and excessive maintenance to keep it in the condition that allows us to provide excellent care to our residents,” Grover specified.
“Our staff do an incredible job and there is a wonderful community at Lyons Road, Drummoyne, but the age of the building does not allow for the type of high care operations required now and into the future.
“In addition, the service is government funded and there is no provision in the funding arrangements to supplement providers during a closure of a service.”
When asked how the decision of closure had been reached, Grover reiterated that “the decision has not been taken lightly”.
“We understand the deep impact this has on residents and their loved ones,” he continued.
“Over the years we have looked at a number of options for the site and consulted with many experts including engineers, architects and builders to work out what could be done.
“A major renovation to bring it into the type of quality aged care that is needed for the future is not possible, and more particularly while it is occupied with residents.”
With only a few months notice given, the timing of the closure is undoubtedly one of the more pertinent issues (although not the only one) which has caused outcry among the residents’ families.
Despite residents’ families’ perplexities, however, Scalabrini seems to have no intention to discuss its decision, saying that every possible step will be taken “to give people – residents, families and our staff – certainty about their future”.
“In order to have certainty, we determined to allow up to four months, until the end of September, for a period of transition,” Grover stated.
The company’s plan expects that there will be places “in our other Scalabrini Villages around Sydney to accommodate all our residents from Lyons Road”.
“This includes a number of places at our newest site called The Village, which is also in Drummoyne,” Grover explained.
“We have put a halt on accepting any new residents at any of our Villages at this time in order to accommodate Lyons Road residents if they chose to move to another Scalabrini Village, which we hope they will do.
“We cannot keep these places vacant for an indefinite length of time.”
Il Globo sought from Scalabrini a response to Minister John Sidoti’s question, when on 10 News he asked just how it could be possible that the building “is no longer aligned with [their] service philosophy to deliver excellence in aged care”.
Grover informed Il Globo that the home had invited Minister Sidoti to visit the village on Lyons Road but, by Friday, he had not yet received a response.
“We explained the reasons for closure to one of his advisors last week,” the organisation said, reiterating that “the cost of continuing to operate and maintain this building is too high but also we cannot keep places vacant at our other Scalabrini Villages indefinitely”.
“Right now, we have sufficient places available; this will not always be the case,” Grover added.
“The organisation is seeking to act responsibly with its resources and funding.”
Besides timing, Scalabrini’s communication of the situation was destined to arouse worry and discomfort in the families of residents.
Domenica Riggio, whose mother is one of the residents of the village, in collaboration with other families created a committee to raise their voices while attempting to halt the closure of Scalabrini Village on Lyons Road.
Interviewed by Rete Italia presenter, Paolo Rajo, Riggio expressed all the anger and worry of the elderly residents’ families, who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the meetings held up until now.
“I don’t see a village which is falling to pieces,” Riggio said.
“After our repeated questioning on how and why the structure was declared ‘inadequate’, during last Wednesday’s meeting on June 12, they [Scalabrini management] spoke to us about a hydraulic problem on which $10,000 had already been spent last month.
“And then they continued to speak about a structure that is 60 years old, and so what?”
There are many unresolved questions on the part of families who are worried about the possible repercussions of relocating their loved ones.
The building on Lyons Road holds many elderly people of Italian heritage who, with their advancement in age, have created within those walls a solid community of shared language and habits.
Their families rightfully fear the stress which another change in residence might cause, after they have finally found equilibrium in their home.
The families’ committee has already organised another meeting, to raise awareness in the community and to attempt to reach an alternate solution to closure.
Where that is not possible, they hope to ensure each resident will have suitable arrangements in place to satisfy their primary needs in care while safeguarding the psychophysical health of their loved ones.
