peopleCare to build new 160-bed LTC home in St. Jacobs
WATERLOO, Ontario, Dec 9, 2021 – Today, Minister of Long-Term Care Rod Phillips awarded peopleCare Communities 160 new long-term care beds in Woolwich, Ontario. This will enable peopleCare to build a new long-term care home in the lovely historic St. Jacobs community, as part of a planned seniors campus.
“As a family owned, mission-driven senior living developer and operator, peopleCare is thrilled to be awarded these new long-term care beds and to have the opportunity to support more seniors to remain in their community and receive high quality care and services,” says Brent Gingerich, Chairman and CEO of peopleCare. “We sincerely thank Minister Phillips, MPP Harris and the government for continuing to make the needs of Ontario’s aging seniors a top priority and enabling leading operators like peopleCare to increase long-term care capacity where needed most.”
Today’s announcement is part of the Ontario government’s ongoing commitment to modernize the long-term care system, in part by building 10,000 net new spaces and upgrading 12,000 existing spaces.
“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,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care. “When completed, this new long-term care home in the Region of Waterloo will provide a safe, modern, comfortable place for residents to call home, near their family and friends.”
Minister Phillips and peopleCare were joined in sharing today’s news by Mike Harris, MPP Kitchener-Conestoga.
“The seniors of Waterloo Region, both rural and urban, expect and deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that when the time comes, their long-term care needs will be met,” said MPP Harris. “The addition of 364 new and 84 upgraded long-term care beds, including a brand new home in St. Jacobs, will provide seniors in our communities with the care that they need for generations to come.”
A priority for peopleCare is to build exceptional long-term care homes, as a first phase of a flexible senior living campus model co-developed with community partners, that will include a range of attainable seniors housing and supports that enable aging in place, which is incredibly valuable to Ontario’s older adults and their families.
“We look forward to engaging with our existing and new community partners – both in and outside of the health system – to plan for the current and future needs of the older adults living in St. Jacobs,” says peopleCare President Megan Allen-Lamb. “Building local partnerships is a peopleCare strength, and key to delivering on our care and quality commitments, and we are thankful to have the support of MPP Harris, Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz and many others.”
peopleCare’s new home will create much-needed care capacity in this growing area of the region, which has a higher than provincial average population of seniors (65+), the second lowest LTC beds per 1,000 seniors (65+) across Waterloo Wellington, the highest absolute numbers of residents waiting for LTC and a shortage of more than 800 LTC beds. Answering a need identified by Grand River Hospital, the new Home will include a specialized dementia support unit, embedding progressive approaches to care.
peopleCare’s innovation focus will also support better care outcomes, and enhanced experiences for residents and their families. For example, residents will benefit from our award-winning, innovative Clinical Pharmacy Model, a pharmacy-led medication reconciliation approach that improves resident safety and was the endorsed model cited in the 2019 LTC Public Inquiry recommendations. One of peopleCare’s Homes was recently named one of 10 ISMP Champion LTC homes supporting the government’s Strengthening Medication Safety in LTC Initiative. We will also design our new home with IPAC innovation top-of-mind, and work with local hospice providers to enhance our approach to resident-centred palliative care.
peopleCare has been caring for seniors in Waterloo region for many years, delivering quality care and exceptional experiences in other long-term care homes in Kitchener and Cambridge. The organization also has deep roots in the Mennonite community including as a long-time supporter of the Waterloo-based NGO, Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA).
“Our compassionate, engaged and dedicated team can’t wait to create this new long-term care Home – and exceptional and meaningful experiences – that exceed the expectations of our residents, families, staff and partners in this warm and welcoming community.” adds Megan Allen-Lamb.
About peopleCare Communities
peopleCare Communities is a Canadian, family owned and mission-driven leading operator of senior living communities, with strong values and a 50-year history of service. We are committed to engagement and collaboration to create vibrant communities of care that deliver meaningful experiences, clinical best practices, engaging programs and integrated services that meet seniors’ changing needs. peopleCare’s innovation and leadership has earned Accreditation Canada Exemplary Status, Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum designation, and the single largest research grant from the Ontario Centres of Excellence, which funded our award-winning Clinical Pharmacy Model, a first-of-its-kind for long-term care in Canada. Our vision is to Change the World of Senior Living.
For more information: Sheena Campbell, Vice President, Communications and Engagement, scampbell@peoplecare.ca
Banner image: woodygraphs/Shutterstock.com
