That’s the refreshing take on old age by the head of Yackandandah Health, and it’s clear that philosophy underpins so much of what it’s doing in the town.

There could be no better way for anyone to prove that to themselves than to consider its new aged-care accommodation facility.

The project, due to open on November 10, cost $6 million, a not uncommon sum for such projects.

It is always a major investment, but where this project stands out is the clever way in which those dollars have been spent.

And again, as service chief executive Annette Nuck has pointed out, the approach has been to create somewhere that people can call home, with the added peace-of-mind of having staff trained to address medical issues when required.

The approach is certainly clear when you consider the bricks and mortar part of the whole equation.

A striking double-storey building has been built, with 16 residential aged rooms upstairs and 10 apartments for more independent living below.

It’s all brand spanking new, but where this project is truly innovative is the way it incorporates a whole-of-community approach.

That is spelled-out in the service’s own planning, with the new home just the first stage of roll-out of facilities that in future will include a child-care centre and a Care Sanctuary, the latter aiming to connect people with animals and the land.

And it’s in the little things that focus on the individual’s right to uphold the dignity that comes with self-determination where what’s been achieved stands-out.

For example, residents won’t be herded in at a set time for breakfast; like anyone in their own home, they can have it when they want it, not when someone tells them to turn up.

Again, as Ms Nuck says: “We want to hand back to people the control over their day-to-day life, so we want them to have a real say in how they spend the day.”

Yackandandah Health has delivered a facility that is deeply rooted in respect and should be warmly congratulated on what has been achieved.