AAA January-February 2019 Cover Story

JAN-FEB 19

australianageingagenda.com.au

A new level of diversification TLC is reducing its reliance on Government funding

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SPONSORED FEATURE An artist’s impression of TLC Healthcare’s new development at Mordialloc

A new level of diversification Following the successful completion of its integrated healthcare strategy, TLC Healthcare is launching two new commercial enterprises.

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n 2014, TLC Healthcare (TLC) announced a $120 million investment strategy that changed the face of aged care in Australia. Over the ensuing four years, the organisation has delivered all the elements of that strategy and earned its spot as a leading innovator in the aged care market.

Given the amount of development the organisation, which incorporates TLC Aged Care, TLC Primary Care and TLC Learning, has delivered in the last four years, 2019 might be an opportune time to take a break. However, CEO Lou Pascuzzi says he has more big plans for the future with 2019 through to 2022 set to be an even more exciting time for the organisation than the previous four years.

“We will be embarking on two new developments in the Melbourne suburbs of Mordialloc and Ivanhoe East. We will also be diversifying the revenue streams of TLC into 24 | JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2019

Views of the Melbourne skyline from Clifton Views

SPONSORED FEATURE commercial cafés and health clubs,” Pascuzzi tells Australian Ageing Agenda.

“In addition to our existing medical centres, these businesses will be another way that TLC can reduce its reliance on government funding.

An organisation that relies solely on government funding is extremely vulnerable.”

In 2018, TLC operationalised 303 residential aged care places and opened an additional three medical centres, which delivered the final elements of its integrated healthcare strategy.

“Our new iconic homes in Fitzroy North on the fringe of the Melbourne central business district and Armstrong Creek between Geelong and Torquay, Clifton Views and Warralily Gardens, opened in August and September 2018, and their current occupancy rates have already exceeded our expectations,” Pascuzzi says.

“The launch of our 10-level Clifton Views home received national coverage and set the standard for high-rise residential aged care in Australia. Now that we have set a new benchmark for aged care, we are ready to take on some exciting challenges.”

The other major element of the strategy has been to integrate medical centres into the aged care homes, which has resulted in positive outcomes for the business and residents, says Pascuzzi.

“I am delighted that we are now able to provide quality primary care to our residents and local communities as and when they need it. Opening in 2019, the medical centre at our Homestead Estate development will mark the primary care integration at all of our existing homes. The rate of hospitalisations of our residents has almost halved in the last 12 months and engagement of ambulance services has more than halved. “Not only is TLC Primary Care having a direct positive impact on the health of our aged care residents, it is also a major commercial contributor to the organisation.”

Creating medical facilities at its locations for both aged care residents and the wider community has long been a strategy for the organisation, and it will be providing an even wider range of services at its new facility in the Melbourne suburb of Mordialloc.

This new development, which is due to be completed in 2021, is located opposite Woodlands Golf Club. It will incorporate an aged care home plus a medical centre, café, and health club that will be open to the general public.

What makes this development special is that the medical centre, café and health club will all be commercial enterprises in their own right. These services will be accessible to the local community on a fee-for-service basis, giving the organisation several new levels of community engagement.

Pascuzzi says he is excited about this groundbreaking development. “Mordialloc will be the first project that this level of publicly accessible services are integrated into an aged care home, truly deinstitutionalising aged care. In addition to the 150 aged care rooms, there will be an exclusive community membership to the commercial health club.”

The state-of-the-art health club will include the latest technology in fitness equipment, personalised training programs and a 25 metre indoor heated swimming pool.

“We are currently working on the interior designs for the development and they are looking fantastic. Once again, this home will be of a

Clifton Views offers luxury accommodation and an unrivalled service profile

“Mordialloc will be the first project that this level of publicly accessible services has been integrated into an aged care home, truly deinstitutionalising aged care.”

standard that will appeal to the next generation.

The design will channel natural light into all areas of the building, complementing the use of natural stone and timbers to give the home a modern feel,” Pascuzzi says.

In addition to the Mordialloc development, TLC is also developing another site in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe East. It is located on Lower Heidelberg Road with sweeping views of the CBD skyline.

“The Ivanhoe East development will be completed in 2021 and will offer very similar services to Mordialloc including the commercial medical centre, café and health club. The views from the Ivanhoe East site across the Melbourne skyline will be spectacular. “The building is being designed to maximise the views of the Melbourne CBD and the Dandenong Ranges, whilst being sympathetic to the heritage of the existing buildings at the location,” says Pascuzzi.

“Both of these new homes will offer people the opportunity to live in a vibrant community, not just an aged care home. The interaction between visitors and the residents is vital for building community engagement. I know from seeing the smiles on the faces of our residents when the local community visits our homes that we are on a winner,” he says.

TLC is continuing to upgrade its existing sites with brownfield projects now in progress at Wallington near Geelong and Whittlesea north of australianageingagenda.com.au

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New enterprises TLC’s new sites in Mordialloc and Ivanhoe East will include the following commercial facilities open to the local community: • on-site medical centres • state-of-the-art health clubs with 25 metre swimming pools • cafés serving light meals and refreshments Residents will have access to a range of quality services: • Australian first technology to be integrated into wellbeing activities • spacious private rooms with adjoining ensuites • the latest safety technology including sensory flooring, emergency call buttons and CCTV • virtual reality cinemas • hair and beauty salons • private dining rooms • beautifully landscaped outdoor areas • dedicated wellbeing and medical centres • luxurious interior décor and design • 24-hour care from registered nurses supported by enrolled nurses and a personal care team • on-staff physiotherapists, dieticians and podiatrists.

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The beauty of natural timber and stone compliments the decor at Warralily Gardens

An artist’s impression of TLC Healthcare’s new development at Ivanhoe East

Melbourne. Pascuzzi and his team are working to complete these projects in 2019. They will result in the operationalisation of a further 215 residential aged care places and the opening of an additional medical centre.

“Works are well underway on Homestead Estate at Wallington just outside Geelong. When this redevelopment is completed, it will be the largest aged care home in Victoria. We are redirecting the public road that currently divides our two homes and connecting them to form a major aged and health care precinct.

“Homestead Estate will offer all of the state-ofthe-art facilities, modern design and quality décor that people have come to expect at our homes.

The current residents are very excited about the development and can’t wait to see their new living, dining, health care and wellbeing areas,” he says.

Residents at Sunlight in Whittlesea were similarly excited last year when the new hydrotherapy pool, gymnasium and medical centre opened there, he says.

“Construction has also begun on the 90-bed extension to Sunlight, which will include new lounge, dining and outdoor areas, a new hair and beauty salon, virtual reality cinema, and activity centres.

“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing all of these long-term development projects come to completion. Our willingness to invest in our facilities has resulted in a marked increase in our occupancy rates since 2014. Enhancing our existing facilities and building new homes has been a great investment for the organisation,” says Pascuzzi.

Aside from new developments, the organisation is changing the aged care landscape in other ways. TLC’s enterprise agreement (EA) has been approved by the Fair Work Commission,

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The rooms at Warralily Gardens are flooded by natural light from bay windows

Reception area at Warralily Gardens

and in an unusual move for aged care, it spans five years and contains prescribed staffing ratios – a first for the industry.

Pascuzzi, who has long been an advocate of staff ratios says he expects TLC’s EA will come as a bit of a shock to some people in the industry who have been lobbying against staff ratios for many years.

“The truth of the matter is, we know exactly how many staff are required to care for a resident and we are more than happy to commit to those numbers. Any provider who says that staff ratios in aged care are not necessary is clearly not listening to the Government or consumers.

Residents are investing a great deal of money in this industry and they deserve to receive the very best of care,” he says.

“The staffing levels in our EA have been developed in consultation with the Health Workers Union and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, who have been great supporters. Our staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of the EA, proving that staff ratios have the support of both consumers and the people who work tirelessly to care for them. We in the aged care industry need to listen to our staff and consumers if we are going

“Any provider who says that staff ratios in aged care are not necessary is clearly not listening to consumers.”

to redeem our image and attract quality people to our workforce,” Pascuzzi says.

In another new initiative, WorkSafe Victoria has recently certified TLC to self-insure for Workers Compensation. It is the only aged care provider in the state currently certified as a self-insurer.

Self-insurance provides certified employers the option of managing and bearing the costs and risks of their own workers’ compensation claims. Eligible employers must undergo a rigorous application and audit process of their health and safety management systems to achieve self-insurance. This process spanned three years for TLC. “For an organisation of our size, achieving self-insurance has been a monumental task. Over the last three years, we have done a great deal of work to ensure that our health and safety management systems were at the level we needed to apply for and be successfully granted selfinsurance,” says Pascuzzi.

“After extensive auditing by WorkSafe Victoria, we can be certain that our system is as robust as some of the largest organisations in the country.

All staff have been engaged in the self-insurance process and have been instrumental in identifying risks, improving processes and ensuring compliance.

“Our residents and their families can be sure that we have some of the safest workplaces in the country, and that our staff are actively engaged in ensuring they stay that way,” he says. n

Contact TLC Healthcare Visit tlchealthcare.com.au or call 123 TLC.

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