McLean Care facilities to merge with Respect Group

MCLEAN Care, the operator of aged care facilities in Gunnedah, will merge with Respect Group after seeking a new provider for its regional services.

The Inverell-based not-for-profit aged care provider has operated the 79-bed Apex Road residential aged care home as well as the 41-bed Alkira facility. It has also operated Mackellar village, a 48-unit facility co-located onsite with the Apex Road residential aged care.

In an update, Respect Group said it is proud to welcome McLean Care into its care community, growing its national footprint to 47 aged care homes across regional and rural Australia.

McLean Care has been supporting rural and regional communities for more than 65 years, operating six residential aged care homes and co-located independent living units across Inverell, Guyra and Gunnedah in northern NSW, and Oakey and Millmerran in southern Queensland.

Jason Binder, chief executive officer and managing director of Respect, said the organisation was honoured to have been selected to continue McLean Care’s legacy.

“McLean Care has a proud history of serving regional communities, and we’re honoured to have been selected to continue that legacy,” Mr Binder said.

“We see significant opportunity to invest in McLean Care’s facilities and services over time. Together, we can build a stronger and more resilient organisation that continues to support older Australians to remain connected to the communities they call home.”

In its update, Respect said residents and clients can be confident that the strong standard of care at McLean Care will continue under the organisation, with all McLean Care staff maintaining their current entitlements as they join the team.

“Respect intends to invest significantly in the redevelopment of the Killean and Mackellar Apex Road facilities, alongside smaller refurbishment works across other sites,” the update read.

“Both Respect and McLean have dedicated transition teams in place to make the change smooth for both care communities. This is an exciting new chapter for McLean Care and the communities it serves.”

Earlier this year, McLean Care board chair Manuel Meszaros said the transition to a new provider 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 at the time.