The Esperance Aged Care Facility is asking for a slice of a mining company's donation so it can reopen beds to the community.
Worker shortages have been blamed for 20 of the facility's 94 beds being empty despite high demand and the recent opening of a multi-million dollar wing.
The shortfall has forced some high-needs residents to live permanently in the town's hospital.
Several community meetings have been held in recent months to address the issue.
The facility's CEO, Ed Rhode, has written to Esperance Shire Council to highlight a need to increase staff and occupancy levels to stay viable.
Dr Rhode said there was a plan in place to deal with staff shortfall and was hoping to soon reopen a 10-bed wing to low-needs residents.
But he said that would first require funding to buy new mattresses and do renovations.
He has asked for a $27,000 cut of the $150,000 donation given to council by mining company IGO at the height of the pandemic.
The funding was designed to help the community deal with the impacts of COVID.
"This recovery effort goes a long way in reducing our waiting list, enabling Esperance Aged Care Facility to generate additional revenue and bring us closer to our pre COVID position, being a fully supported aged care facility," he wrote.
Shire staff have recommended the payment be endorsed but the final decision will lie with councillors who will vote on the request on May 24.
Of the $150,000 that was donated to council by the mining company, $56,404 remains.
'Make it a priority'
Esperance resident Thurriya Ibrahim hosted the community meetings about aged care and was glad to see a plan to move forward put in place.
She said reopening the beds would take pressure off other services in the town.
She was not surprised the request went to the council even though aged care was a federal government responsibility.
She would also like to see the Esperance Aged Care Facility secure funding for a volunteer coordinator to support volunteers at the facility.
"I'm really passionate about aged care," she said.
"I think it's important that as a community we do make it a priority."
