$6 Million Extension at Helping Hand Lealholme in Port Pirie Opens

Helping Hand’s Port Pirie aged care residents will now share the one home following the official opening of a $6 million extension to its Lealholme property at Halliday Street.

Residents living at Helping Hand’s Senate Road home will move in to Lealholme, with the Senate Road property likely to be sold.

The new wing – named Regent House – brings the capacity of Lealholme to 104 residential places and now includes a purpose-built memory support unit for people living with dementia.

"Helping Hand is committed to serving communities across South Australia and is continually improving its homes to provide the most contemporary aged care services to our residents," says Helping Hand CEO Ian Hardy.

"This expansion at Lealholme ensures we can support the Port Pirie community throughout their ageing experience – from home care services, through to residential care – and to provide the highest quality services at every step of the way."

The expansion includes 30 new bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, additional staff station, medication room, a new lounge and dining room, landscaped sensory gardens and a Men’s Shed.

Consolidation of the two facilities will ensure a more integrated approach to service delivery and care, increased access to care and lifestyle choices for residents and enhanced operational support for staff.

Built with the assistance of the Australian Government through a $2.76 million Residential Care Grant and with more than $3 million investment from Helping Hand, the 172 day construction period has seen up to 35 tradespeople on site per day with up to half employed from the local region including in demolition, civil and site works, concreting, electrics, joinery, glazing, landscaping, flooring and roofing.

The project is a partnership between Helping Hand and Walter Brooke architects, engineers Gascoigne Consultants, structural and civil engineers CPR Engineers and Kennett Builders.

"The work has been carried out during some of the most challenging weather conditions we have seen in this state, and we thank our residents and staff for their patience and resilience during this time. Work was only briefly delayed – and we are still meeting our planned delivery timetable – and I acknowledge the team working on the project for its leadership and persistence," says Mr Hardy.

Helping Hand employs close to 200 staff in its aged care services in Port Pirie: 124 in residential care and 55 in community home care.