Joan Whiting - what's happening

Rest home care is main aim

Joan Whiting Memorial Trust‚s first priority is to preserve elder care in Golden Bay, wherever that is feasible.

Earlier this month the trust turned down proposals from the Friends of Joan Whiting after considering its ideas to save the Collingwood rest home in its current location.

The trust has decided providing rest home care in Golden Bay within an integrated health facility where some costs can be shared is the most practical because a stand-alone facility of this size is not financially viable.

The trustees are determined to ensure the rest home has a genuine homely feel with good amenities for residents, according to trust chair Chris Mitson. "The well-being of our residents is our main concern."

Over the past couple of years the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and the trust have worked to keep Joan Whiting going, with integration the aim for both. The board has provided a temporary subsidy and the trust has sold assets to cover operational costs, driven non-wage costs down and pushed income as hard as it could. Joan Whiting cannot operate without additional funding and the district health board cannot continue to provide a subsidy above the government-designated rate beyond 31 December 2009.

The trust will commit proceeds to the integrated facility from the sale of the Joan Whiting rest home, subject to signing off on key stages of the project, models of care, building design and governance, and following community consultation. It will keep enough funds to complete the winding up process and any other obligations.