Vancouver Island’s first publicly funded dementia village will be built in the Comox Valley.
Island Health announced on Monday that they have signed a project development agreement with Providence Living to build and operate a 156-bed dementia village in Comox.
Construction of the new dementia village is estimated at $53 million.
The new dementia village will feature individual housing units for up to 12 residents, who will have their own private room and bathroom.
Residents will be involved in everyday activities within their household or the village and amenities such as community gardens, child daycare, art studio, bistro, chapel, and Island Health-funded adult day programs are also included.
It will be built on the existing site of Island Health’s The Views long-term care home as well as the former St. Joseph’s General Hospital site. The village will replace existing beds at The Views, once completed.
“This innovative dementia village will help seniors experiencing dementia continue to have a good and dignified quality of life,” said Ronna Rae Leonard, parliamentary secretary for seniors and MLA for Courtenay-Comox.
According to Island Health, there will be 148 publicly-funded long-term care beds and eight publicly funded respite beds at the village. The health authority also says it will provide annual operational funding to meet the province’s target of 3.36 direct care hours per resident day.
“We know there will be increased demand for dementia care in the years ahead and Island Health is committed to preparing our communities to meet those needs,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair in a press release. “We are so excited to see Vancouver Island’s first publicly funded dementia village be built in the Comox Valley.”
“We are very pleased to take this next step in fulfilling our mandate to provide innovative seniors care by building a long-term care home modeled on the concepts of a dementia village,” added Jane Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Providence Living.
Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2021.
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