July 13, 2012
Province to Build 80-bed, Personal Care Home in Lac du Bonnet
– – –Construction Part of $200-million Plan to Provide Long-term Care Closer to Home: Selinger
LAC DU BONNET—A new 80-bed, $32-million personal care home here will build on the province’s comprehensive $200-million strategy to improve long-term care for seniors across Manitoba, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“When seniors need the added care and safety of a personal care home, it’s a comfort to them and their families to stay close to home,” Selinger said. “This is at the core of our commitment to seniors as we make strategic investments to offer a range of housing options in communities across the province.”
The new 62,000-square-foot facility will replace the existing 30-bed personal care home, an expansion of 50 beds designed to meet the needs of the community and surrounding region, the premier said. A project steering committee, which includes the province, community leaders and the regional health authority, is assisting with project planning.
“Our team is looking forward to providing care for more residents in our new facility and because its design focuses on the continuum of care, we will be able to better accommodate the increasing care needs of our elders,” said John Stinson, CEO, Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. “Another aspect of the new facility that has staff members excited is the opportunity for increased family involvement the new facility will provide. This is each resident’s home and living well has much to do with a positive, safe and caring environment.”
In February 2011, the province announced a $200-million fund to create hundreds more personal care home beds to meet the current and future needs of Manitoba seniors. New personal care homes are currently in development in Niverville and Morden-Winkler, as well as the Holy Family Home in north Winnipeg. Together, these projects will create over 200 new long-term care beds for seniors who need the specialized medical care offered in a personal care home, Selinger said.
“This is wonderful news for residents of Lac du Bonnet and the surrounding area,” said Mayor Greg Short. “The steering committee is working to ensure this 80-bed facility addresses the needs of our seniors and provides a place of care and comfort that our growing seniors population deserves.”
The new facility will be built on Leslie Avenue in Lac du Bonnet, with construction expected to start in the spring of 2014, the premier said, adding it will meet stringent international environmental standards, according to the government’s green buildings policy.
Since 1999, the province will have added over 1,400 personal care home beds and supportive housing units for seniors. Additional supports have also been put in place to allow seniors to remain as independent as possible in community-based group living sites. The premier noted important improvements have also been made to the home-care program to ensure thousands more seniors are able to safely and comfortably live at home for as long as possible.
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