Mercy growing in Werribee

Villa Franca Nursing Home in Werribee has joined Mercy Health & Aged Care. The 70 elderly residents who live in the home will continue to be cared for by Villa Franca staff, who have become Mercy Health & Aged Care employees.

A vacant block of land adjoining the home has also been purchased and will allow the home to be extended to meet Werribee's growing aged care needs.

Mercy Health & Aged Care is rapidly expanding its aged care division in response to increasing community needs. The purchase of Villa Franca takes the total number of licensed aged care beds managed by Mercy Health & Aged Care to over 1,000.

The home was established in 1981 by the Di Natalie family who, after managing the home for 26 years, decided the time was right to sell the home.

CEO of Mercy Health & Aged Care, John Ballard, said the Di Natale family had taken a significant and emotional decision to hand over Villa Franca.

"They can take comfort in the knowledge that they are transferring the home to a highly regarded Catholic organisation that is well known to the local community, through Werribee Mercy Hospital," he said.

"We will respect and develop Villa Franca's strong ties to the local Italian and wider Werribee communities."