Construction is well underway at the site of a new 110-bed personal care home that will provide residents with a modern design that enhances the quality of care residents receive in a neighbourhood-like setting.
“I congratulate the community and thank them for their partnership,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen, who toured the site today. “This new and expanded facility will increase capacity in communities and regions, ensuring more residents will be able to get care closer to home.”
Construction on the new site in Carman, expected to open by 2021, started in the spring. The first of two phases of construction is ongoing, with work in progress on the pilings and concrete work for the foundations on a new, 80-bed facility. When complete, the site will accommodate residents with general dementia or other special needs.
In the second phase, the existing personal care home will be renovated to add 30 beds and modernize support space.
The new facility, called Boyne Care, will help create a sense of community among residents, with a design that clusters 10 to 12 rooms with private washrooms and showers. Each cluster will also have a large gathering space, a smaller private lounge, a dining area and an activity space. The new facility will also include maintenance, laundry and housekeeping service areas, storage, offices, staff areas and exterior patios, walkways and parking.
A 2016 review confirmed there was enough demand to support additional personal care home beds in this region. Demographics also projected continued growth in the number of seniors living in the area.
“Families waiting for long-term care for their loved ones are in need of more personal care home spaces,” said Jane Curtis, chief executive officer, Southern Health-Santé Sud. “Boyne Care is an ambitious project that will enable more people in Carman and surrounding communities to stay closer to home for long-term personal care. We look forward to joining our project partners and the Manitoba government in welcoming families and residents to this new neighbourhood-minded space for integrated, holistic, long-term care.”
Boyne Care Holdings is represented by elected officials from the Town of Carman and surrounding municipalities of Dufferin, Thompson, Roland and Grey. The organization developed the Carman project proposal with the regional health authority.
“The start of construction for the new Boyne PCH in Carman marked a significant milestone for Boyne Care Holdings as we work toward creating an aging-in-place campus for older adults and those requiring personal care in the region,” said Ray Franzmann, chair of Boyne Care Holdings. “The support from Southern Health-Santé Sud and government during this time of construction has made clear this is truly a collaborative effort.”
The province will provide a portion of the capital funding, with the remaining financial and other supports provided by Boyne Care Holdings. The final cost of the project is subject to the tendering process, the minister noted.
