Soothing spot opened for Roebourne’s elderly

An 18-month project to provide a quiet, calming location for young and old to share has been unveiled next to Yaandina’s aged-care facility in Roebourne.

The Hampton Road facility now boasts a garden and community care building to encourage aged-care residents and home and community care clients outside.

Yaandina Community Services chief executive Nick Furnivall said the new facilities would create a space family and friends could share with Roebourne’s elderly residents.

“The main aspect of this facility, and why I am proud of it, is we have actually linked it to the residential aged care next door,” he said.

“The garden was set up to encourage family and friends to come visit the residential aged-care people next door, as well as the HACC clients who come.

“We want to encourage ... youth to be a part of their elders’ ageing.”

Mr Furnivall said the gardens had already been a hit with the aged care residents.

“They were sitting on the veranda there overlooking the gardens and telling stories about a well up on the hill,” he said.

“To be able to get the residents outside among the gardens, on country, is significant.”

Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said the new garden would be a beautiful place for families to come together.

Pilbara Development Commission chief executive Terry Hill said the project was a welcome addition to Roebourne.

Mr Hill said the garden would improve quality of life for Yaandina’s aged-care residents and community care clients.

As part of the project, Yaan-dina’s administration building also underwent a refurbishment, and a historic building lived in by Augustus Roe at the front of the facility was partially restored.

Some stone from the building, which was condemned after cyclone Christine in 2013, was used to build a monument in the garden. Mr Furnivall said it was important that as much of the heritage building was maintained as possible.