The Ministry of Health and Interior Health are moving ahead with the long awaited expansion of a long term care facility in Cranbrook.
On Monday, IH and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a project to create a new four-storey long term care facility on 4th Street South to replace the aging FW Green Memorial Home.
The existing facility is over 70 years old, the new facility will add 88 new beds for a total of 148.
The $156.5 million project will be carried out through two phases with phase one opening in 2027 and phase two accepting new residents by 2029.
Find more information from the Ministry of Health below:
More people living in the East Kootenay region will have access to high-quality long-term care as Interior Health prepares to build a new care community with 148 beds.
“As people age, they want to be able to receive high-quality health-care services, including long-term care,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That’s why we are building a new care community that will provide more long-term care beds and community services in Cranbrook. Seniors and their loved ones will have peace of mind knowing they will be supported with the care they need, close to home.”
With the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District and community partners, Interior Health will construct a new four-storey long-term care facility at 1700 4 St. South, Cranbrook. The new building will replace the 60-bed Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home, which is approximately 70 years old. The new facility will add an additional 88 long-term care (LTC) beds, for a total of 148 beds.
The project will begin soon with procurement. Construction is expected to start in 2025. Phase 1 is anticipated to open in 2027, relocating all existing residents and making way for Phase 2 to accept new residents in 2029.
“The expansion and upgrade to the Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home will provide a new and modern building for our seniors in the Cranbrook area,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “As well, our staff will benefit from modern technologies and improved workflow in the new building.”
This new care-community model takes lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic into account with designs using the new best-practice infection-control standards. This model improves pandemic resiliency, while being culturally sensitive to serve a diverse population.
The care home will be designed as “households” accommodating 12 to 18 residents. Each resident will have a single-bed room with dedicated washroom. The “households” will include the social and recreational spaces found in a typical home-like environment, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors.
There will also be community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, including activity rooms, a hair salon, sacred space and a 25-space adult day program for people living more independently in the community. As well, a child care space will be constructed with capacity for 37 children.
The capital cost of the project is $156.5 million to be funded jointly between the Province through Interior Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District. The care community will be constructed, owned and operated by Interior Health.
LTC communities provide care and supervision for people with complex care needs, who can no longer live safely and independently at home, through a range of services delivered by well-trained, compassionate and caring staff.
To meet growing demand during the past five years, government has invested approximately $2 billion to expand and improve quality care for seniors in British Columbia, including investments in primary care, home health, LTC and assisted living.
– Article includes statement from BC government
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