The Ontario government is expanding a Niagara-on-the-Lake nursing home as part of a program to modernize and expand six long-term care homes in Niagara and Hamilton.
The Niagara Long Term Care Residence on Wellington Street will receive funding for 100 new beds and redevelopment of its existing 124-bed facility.
No price tag was mentioned when Long-term Care Minister Paul Calandra unveiled the funding during an announcement last week in Beamsville.
Construction on the new 224-bed facility is expected to start by winter 2024, Calandra said. The for-profit home is licensed to Arch Long Term Care LP.
“Our government has a plan to fix long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe, and comfortable homes for our seniors,” Calandra said.
Niagara LTC Residence executive director Chris Poos was pleased with the news.
“This is a significant milestone for Niagara LTC and the broader long-term care system in the Niagara region,” he said in a statement.
“Redeveloping homes such as ours will provide seniors in the community, and their families, with increased access to much-needed modern, safe and comfortable homes.”
While Niagara LTC is growing, nearby the 80-bed Upper Canada Lodge, which is operated by the Region of Niagara, is still expected to be closed in December 2023.
“Niagara Region continues to move forward on the two redevelopment projects – Linhaven in St. Catharines and Gilmore Lodge in Fort Erie.
When the two new homes open, the beds at Upper Canada Lodge in Niagara-on-the-Lake will close,” regional spokesperson Shelby VanderEnde told The Lake Report.
As well, in December 2020, a new, larger facility at Pleasant Manor in Virgil was confirmed by the province. However, it has yet to be built. Target date for construction to begin is now spring 2023.
Combined with the centre’s current 41 beds, the project will give Pleasant Manor a 160-bed facility as part of a “campus of care.”
The new centre is to be built on Elden Street, behind the current facility, on land occupied by a fruit orchard.
Radiant Care CEO Tim Siemens said it was anticipated the province would cover $37.5 million of the project, nearly 90 per cent of the construction costs.
The existing 41-bed facility will be converted into community housing for seniors, he said.
