Private long-term care homes in Hamilton-Niagara get provincial funds to add beds
Published March 17, 2022 at 11:06 am
The Ontario government announced Thursday (Mar. 17) that six privately-owned long-term care homes in the Hamilton-Niagara region would be getting funds to add 387 new beds and to upgrade and modernize another 645 beds.
The province has been under fire for its handling of long-term care (LTC) homes since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Residents at for-profit LTC homes have especially been disproportionately affected.
“Evidence demonstrates that for-profit LTC homes have lower levels of staffing, more complaints from residents and family, more acute care hospital admissions, and higher mortality rates,” according to a study published in January.
Overall, the incidence rate for COVID-19 deaths among LTC residents in Ontario was 13 times higher than the rate for adults 69 years of age or older living in the community.
“Lack of preparation, shortage of staff, and overcrowding have contributed to excess mortality in the LTC sector, and mortality increases with age and pre-existing medical conditions,” according to the study. “Furthermore, personal protective equipment, reduced use of part-time staff, and early implementation of infection protocols have been linked to lower rates of mortality in nursing homes.”
The province says it plans to spend $6.4 billion over the next six years to build new or update nearly 60,000 beds.
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Funding details:
- 28 new and 68 redeveloped long-term care beds allocated to Crescent Park Lodge, which is licensed to Conmed Health Care Group. A modern, new 96-bed home will be built in Fort Erie to replace the existing 68-bed home. Construction is expected to start by spring 2023.
- 91 new and 101 redeveloped beds allocated to West Park Health Center, currently a 101-bed home in St. Catharines licensed to Southbridge Care Homes Inc., which will be moving to Niagara Falls. This project will create a new 192-bed home. Construction is expected to start by fall 2022.
- 100 new and 124 redeveloped beds allocated to Niagara Long Term Care Residence, which is licensed to Arch Long Term Care LP. A new 224-bed home will be built in Niagara-on-the-Lake to replace the existing 124-bed home. Construction is expected to start by winter 2024.
- 58 new and 102 redeveloped beds allocated to The Wellington Nursing Home in Hamilton, proposed to be licensed to Arch Long Term Care LP. A new 160-bed home will be built to replace the existing 102-bed home. Construction is expected to start by winter 2024.
- 104 new long-term care beds allocated to Extendicare St. Catharines, which is licensed to Extendicare (Canada) Inc. This is a further allocation on top of a previous allocation of 152 upgraded beds, which will result in a new 256-bed home being built to replace the existing 152-bed home. Construction is expected to start by spring 2023.
- 6 new and 250 redeveloped beds allocated to Garden City Manor, a St. Catharines long-term care home licensed to Revera Long Term Care Inc. A new 256-bed home will be built on the current Garden City Manor site. The home currently has 200 beds. The remaining 50 beds to be redeveloped are being transferred from Kilean Lodge in Grimsby, which will be closed after the completion of the new Garden City Manor. Construction on the new home is expected to start by late fall 2023.