peopleCare Celebrates Opening of new Meaford Long-Term Care Home

Today was full of excitement as the team at peopleCare Communities’ newly completed Meaford Long-Term Care joined special guests to warmly welcome residents and their families into their beautiful new Home.

L to R Meaford CAO Rob Armstrong, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers, peopleCare President Megan Allen-Lamb, Heather Gingerich, Gerry Shortt, Shirley Shortt, Carolyn Shortt, Meaford Mayor Ross Kentner, Chairman and CEO Brent Gingerich

Resident and former Meaford Mayor Gerry Shortt was one of the first residents to arrive from the old LTC Home just a few blocks away, accompanied by his wife Shirley and daughter Carolyn. Standing alongside current Meaford Mayor Ross Kentner, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers, Meaford CAO Rob Armstrong, Mr. Shortt helped mark this milestone with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.

peopleCare began construction in June 2021, after an award of 51 new LTC bed licenses and approval to redevelop the 77 existing LTC beds from the Ministry of Long-Term Care. A total of 128 local seniors will have a safe, comfortable place to call home, close to family and friends in the lovely community of Meaford.

peopleCare Chairman and CEO Brent Gingerich greeting resident

peopleCare’s commitment is to be at the forefront of design that improves the lives of people residing in long-term care Homes and supports their healthy aging. Resident-centred design features in our new LTC Home in Meaford complement our approach to care. The entire building is dementia friendly with resident home areas built around a secure interior courtyard, giving residents safe access to outdoor space,  and increased freedom and mobility.

One of the many ways peopleCare team members work to enrich resident experiences for those with dementia is through innovative wall murals that reflect the scenes from the local area to evoke fond memories, offering residents a meaningful opportunity to reminisce and reflect on an earlier time in life and contribute to a sense of belonging, connection, comfort, and continuity. Welcoming visual door-wraps also assist with wayfinding and trigger meaningful home-like and independent activity for residents. Read more about Sensoryscapes in peopleCare Homes.

Sensory-scapes in peopleCare Meaford LTC include scenes from familiar local establishments such as this cafe.

The new LTC Home is part of a planned campus of care that will include future additional seniors housing options, informed by consultation with the community around local needs.

Read more on peopleCare’s Twitter page.

Read the Government of Ontario news release.