Residents of Mossman are being urged to tell their personal stories to support the case to build an aged care facility behind the Mossman Hospital. 

The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus, who will build and operate the high-care facility, are currently preparing an application to the Federal Government in which they are seeking 42 bed licences, a capital grant, and zero interest loan.
 
"After 16 years of lobbying for an aged care facility in Mossman, we have never been so close to seeing this finally happen," said Liz Need, vice president of Mossman District Nursing Home Inc.
 
"The Federal Government issues ‘bed licenses’ according to the extent of urgency and necessity demonstrated in the applications."
 
Ms Need called on the community to put pen to paper to help secure the facility.
 
"Letters of support from all members of the community will assist with demonstrating this need. Letters may be from individuals who have been impacted by a need to relocate to an aged care facility located outside of Mossman, or partners who have had to contend with travelling significant distances to visit their spouse.
 
"Perhaps children and friends have witnessed hardship experienced by parents and aging friends due to such difficult circumstances."  
 
She said that despite the presence of aged care facilities in Port Douglas and Julatten, the necessity for families or partners to travel can mean the difference between regular visits and isolation for facility residents.
 
"Mossman has a high number of ageing residents who are either in need of care, or will be in need of care in the near future.  
 
"Whilst there are facilities in Port Douglas and Julatten, even such short distances are impossible to travel to for some family and friends to visit regularly, and people feel abandoned.
 
"It is difficult for someone 80 years plus to regularly visit their spouse of 50 or 60 years in these circumstances," she said.
 
Letters sharing your experiences should be directed to the following address by Friday 9 November:
 
Nicola Rosenthal
Community Services & Business Development Manager
The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus
46 John Parade
Merewether, NSW, 2291
 
Template letters are available to assist in preparing individual letters. Should they be required, please email Liz at liz@huntdesign.com.au.