Aged care provider McLean Care, operator of Mackellar Apex Road and Alkira facilities, has announced it plans to transition its services to a new provider.
The Inverell-based not-for-profit aged care provider released information about its intention to transition its business – comprising residential care, independent living units (ILUs), home-care services and virtual healthcare hub iAge Health – on Tuesday.
In Gunnedah, the service provider operates the 79-bed Apex Road residential aged care home as well as the 41-bed Alkira facility. It also operates Mackellar village, a 48-unit facility co-located onsite with the Apex Road residential aged care.
Other facilities are located in Inverell, Guyra, Oakey (Queensland) and Millmerran (Queensland).
Across its entire operations, the aged care provider employs more than 700 full-time, part-time and casual staff.
In the announcement, McLean Care acknowledged the move is in response to a range of financial pressures facing aged care providers, particularly in regional areas, including complex compliance requirements, rising operating costs, labour shortages and the increasing cost of maintaining and upgrading facilities.
Board chair Manuel Meszaros said the transition was necessary to ensure the long-term future of services provided by McLean Care in local regional communities.
“Unfortunately, the pressures on aged care providers, especially in regional areas, mean McLean Care’s operations are no longer viable under our current operating model,” Mr Meszaros said.
“The board has made the difficult decision to seek new providers and operators of McLean Care’s facilities and services. This process will be led by expert financial and legal advisers with support from the Commonwealth government,” he said.
“We will be seeking potential new providers that are aligned to our mission-led ethos, committed to high-quality care and resident wellbeing, and have the financial resources necessary to operate successfully into the future.
“There will be no impact on our residential aged care facilities or home-care services. These will continue to operate as normal during the process and we will be working toward a seamless transition to new providers. We are in close communication with residents, families, home-care clients and employees on this decision and will continue to keep them informed as the process unfolds,” Mr Meszaros said.
In a separate announcement on the day, McLean Care confirmed that chief executive officer Sue Thomson would step away from her role for personal reasons, effective February 12.
Experienced aged care industry leader Jill Davidson has been appointed interim chief executive officer to steer McLean Care through the transition process.
Mr Meszaros said the board would like Sue to have led the organisation through the transition process, but respected her decision.
“Sue has made an enormous contribution to McLean Care over more than 17 years with the group, including 12 as CEO. She will be missed by our community, and we wish her well for the future,” he said.
