Kyneton’s community-owned RM Begg Aged Care facility is gearing up for a merger with Tasmanian company Respect.
Residents and staff have been informed of the board’s intentions to merge RM Begg with Respect, a not-for-profit organisation that runs 20 aged care homes, retirement villages and home care services across Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
In a letter to the RM Begg community, board chair Phillip Irvine explained that the board had spent the past 18 months investigating potential aged care providers who could steer the organisation forward in a sustainable way.
“Under Respect, we not only believe RM Begg will be better placed to meet the enormous challenges that continue to impact the industry, but also develop and thrive – ensuring our home is the aged care provider of choice for the Kyneton community,” Mr Irvine said.
If the merger were to go ahead, residents have been told RM Begg would maintain its name, and a local manager would be appointed to run the Kyneton aged care home.
Respect would also inject significant funds to refurbish the 64-year-old aged care facility, as well as upgrading the units at 22 Epping Street and bring the schoolhouse back to its historical standard.
Respect has also committed to donating the value of the net assets back to the Kyneton community, if in the unlikely event that RM Begg was no longer able to remain a service in the community.
Respect’s chief executive officer Jason Binder and members of the RM Begg Board will be present to address community questions at a community meeting on Thursday June 15 at 6pm at RM Begg Aged Care. Enquiries can be made to Patricia Collocott on (03) 5421 3600 or at patricia.collocott@raymbegg.org.au
