Another 288 residents now have access to long-term care beds at two facilities in Grey County.
Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra called it a significant milestone for residents, who can now get the care they need close to home.
Southbridge Owen Sound has an additional 91 beds, while another 69 beds have been upgraded since construction began two years ago.
And the peopleCare Meaford Long Term Care project that started in June 2021 added 51 new and 77 upgraded beds. Eventually new types of houses will be built at the Meaford location to create a campus for people who need retirement living and assisted living. That would allow residents to live in the same location as their care requirements evolve.
Both homes offer new features like larger resident common areas, private and basic rooms. There are no ward rooms, and the homes have air conditioning in all areas.
The province has promised $6.4 billion with a goal of adding 30,000 net new beds by 2028. The funding will also cover upgrades for 28,000 long-term care beds across the province to address a growing demand and long wait lists for long-term care.
“Congratulations to peopleCare Meaford Long Term Care and Southbridge Owen Sound on the openings of their brand new modern, safe, and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Calandra. “Today marks a significant milestone for Grey County – peopleCare Meaford Long Term Care’s 128-bed home and Southbridge Owen Sound’s 160-bed home mean that 288 residents will have a new place to call home, near their family and friends.”
The Ontario government has offered a supplemental increase to the construction funding subsidy to encourage construction of more long-term care homes across the province by August 31, 2023. The province is also providing more flexibility for not-for-profit homes to receive a portion of the funding as an up-front construction grant payable at the start of construction.
“I am thrilled to see the expansion of long-term care and retirement living here in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and would like to express my sincere thanks to Minister Calandra for his great work in supporting these facilities in our community,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers
“As a family-owned, values-based organization, peopleCare has a long history of caring for others in the community. We are thrilled to open this larger, modern new long-term care home in Meaford and support more seniors in remaining close to family and friends, while receiving high quality care and services. We sincerely thank Minister Calandra, MPP Byers and the government for continuing to make the needs of Ontario’s aging seniors a top priority and enabling leading operators like peopleCare to increase long-term care capacity where it’s needed most,” said peopleCare Chairman and CEO Brent Gingerich.
“The health and safety of our residents is our number one priority. We thank Minister Calandra and the Ministry of Long-Term Care for the opportunity to enhance and prioritize long-term care in Ontario with this new project. We are excited that residents are moving into our new home where they will experience our modern, safe and community-minded approach to living.” added Ryan Bell of Southbridge Care Homes.
