The Murchison community has been devastated after the town’s only nursing home announced it would close its doors in the coming weeks.
Administrators of Murchison Community Care DP Jones Nursing Home told residents, staff and families the company could no longer continue to operate at a meeting on Tuesday.
The 40-bed facility was placed into administration earlier this month because of its deteriorating financial situation.
But with Murchison Community Care owning four other buildings in town — including the medical centre, pharmacy, Neighbourhood House and men's shed — the future of those services also remains unclear.
Eileen Pitts, 91, who was born in Murchison and has been a resident of the nursing home for the past three years, said she was shocked.
“Most of us are very old and I just find it an absolute disgrace that it should happen to us,” Ms Pitts said.
“I’m too old to be wandering around to other facilities.
“My children are talking about me going back down to Melbourne but as you can imagine, when you get to my age you don’t really want to be moved.
“We were very happy here in this facility and all of a sudden it’s going to be closed down — we find it very difficult.”
The statement issued to employees on Tuesday said there had been no "expressions of interest within the relevant timeframe from government-approved providers to purchase the assets of the business of MCC".
“In the circumstances, we cannot continue to operate the facility, which will ultimately require the relocation of all current residents to alternative aged care facilities,” the statement read.
Although SV Partners administrator Richard Cauchi could not comment or indicate a timeframe as to when the facility would close, the employee statement said the next few weeks would be challenging for employees while residents were relocated.
“We will require your services to assist with the relocation of residents and therefore your employment with the association is ongoing until further notice,” it read.
With the future of his building now up in the air, Murchison pharmacist Frank Mattea said the town was searching for a way forward.
“We are looking at an opportunity for the community at least to try to see if this mess can be rescued because there’s a lot of people that rely on the aged care for employment,” he said.
“Residents that have been there long-term, some have been there for 47 years and they would be devastated.
“It’s going to hurt the town and you just feel sad for the people looking to come here and use the facility.”
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