January 23, 2015
Manitoba Government to Tender for Personal Care Home in Morden
Tomorrow the Manitoba government will release a public tender for the construction of a 100-bed personal care home in the Morden-Winkler area, Health Minister Sharon Blady announced today.
“We are excited to reach this milestone so we can begin the next phase of the project,” said Minister Blady. “Studies show that long-term care residents do better when visited by friends and family, so having a facility in the Morden-Winkler area that can meet the needs of the community is essential.”
The new Tabor Home will be 77,137 sq. ft., more than twice the size of the current facility. It will have 40 more beds than the current Tabor Home, and bigger, single-resident bedrooms with private washrooms.
The new facility will feature a variety of spaces for dining, daily activities, recreation and large gatherings, as well as hallways designed to promote walking, encourage social interaction and provide direct access to sheltered patio space.
“With appreciation extended to the Manitoba government as well as the Tabor Home board and staff, we look forward to moving forward collaboratively as the new chapter unfolds,” said Kathy McPhail, chief executive officer, Southern Health-Santé Sud. “The announcement of this next phase is vital in keeping our seniors in their community and close to their loved ones.”
Staff at Tabor Home were consulted in the design, which is meant to better serve the diverse needs of the community. The new facility will also include a unit to provide better care for seniors with complex needs, such as severe dementia or behavioural management issues. Twenty of the 100 beds will operate as supportive housing, accommodating residents who need assistance but do not need 24-hour nursing care and supervision.
“The new Tabor Home will help us provide a wider range of care options for our residents,” said Wilf Warkentin, board chair, Tabor Home. “This facility will decrease the waiting time for beds, reduce unnecessary hospital stays and ensure residents receive care in the most optimal setting based on their needs.”
The new facility will emphasize energy efficiency. It is expected to earn a Manitoba Hydro Power Smart designation by being at least 10 per cent more efficient than the standards set in the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings, and to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) silver certification for promoting clean, renewable energy.
The existing Tabor Home was built in 1968 and expanded in 1984, and has single-occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms.
The new facility design will ensure room sizes and amenity spaces meet current provincial guidelines.
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