A LOCAL volunteer group’s commitment to improving the lives of elderly Riverlanders saw it open a group of new retirement units recently.
Renmark Paringa Independent Living earlier this month opened a new group of six retirement units, located on Renmark’s Seventeenth Street.
Renmark Paringa Independent Living chair – and Renmark Paringa Council deputy mayor – Peter Hunter said accessibility and layout of the units was tailored specifically to elderly Riverland tenants.
“We’ve got a strong waiting list and to be able to offer these to the next six people is wonderful,” Mr Hunter said.
“They are to suit people over 55 and how their medical needs will change.
“You’ll see rails in the toilets and showers, a towel drying rack, wider than normal doors and smooth floor surfaces for wheelchairs.
“If there was to be an ambulance they’ll easily get in and out. All those things we’ve thought about and gradually improved.”
Renmark Paringa Independent Living units are supported by funds raised through the Renmark Paringa Opportunity Shop.
Mr Hunter said the organisation would now look to pay the costs of existing units before beginning construction on a new block.
“We’ve got two other blocks ready to go, but both of them have rental properties at the moment,” he said.
“We need to pay down the debt first… we’ll do that over the next three years, then we’ll make a decision about which of those next blocks we do.
“We do a review every six months and we’ve got the previous ones as well, so we’ll build and make small alterations.
“The waiting list is long, but we’ve got a wide variety of units. This is the top-end and brand new.”
Mr Hunter said living in the retirement units provided residents with a communal social outlet.
“You can always find someone to chat to, without it being too big,” he said.
“Some of our other units have a regular Friday meeting… so there’s that communal feeling as opposed to living in a little unit.”