The Rev Andy Eldred from St Mark’s Church in Carterton led a blessing ceremony at the Carter Court site on Thursday with Carter Society manager Rae Andrews [centre]. PHOTO/GIANINA SCHWANECKE
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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Work may soon start on expanding one of the wings at Carter Court in Carterton to help meet rising demand for care facilities.
Six rooms with dual beds and en suites catering to both rest home and hospital residents will be built on a grassed area in front of an existing wing at the not-for-profit community based aged residential care facility.
It’s a project more than two years in the making, Carter Society Incorporated manager Rae Andrews said.
She said there was a growing need for rooms with hospital facilities as there was a shortage in South Wairarapa.
“The ageing population in Carterton will grow massively in the next two decades.
“With people being supported in their homes longer, they are coming into here with higher needs of care and more complications.”
The dual beds would mean that people could “age in place” without having to move as their needs increased, she said.
“We are starting to see the overflow of covid-19 impacting on vulnerable people.
“We’ve had a spike in inquiries.”
Andrews was especially excited as it was the first on-site development since about 2003.
The project was with the district council for resource consent, but building was expected to start shortly after it was given.
About four trees would need to be cleared before this could take place, with the Rev Andy Eldred from St Mark’s Church invited to bless the land.
While it would be sad to lose some of the lawn area where the 38 or so residents often walked, a new lime path was being developed by the Carterton Men’s Shed along their orchard, she said.
“We have lots of space at Carter Court for development. We’ve been so well supported by our organisations and communities.”
