Welcome home Tillsonburg LTC

On August 17, there were plenty of smiles and warm welcomes as the first residents arrived at peopleCare’s new Tillsonburg long-term care home, complete with leis and a few celebratory mimosas. It was a meaningful milestone and the beginning of a brand-new community of residents, families and team members.

“There’s nothing better than finally opening the doors and welcoming residents home,” said Jenn Killing, Vice President of Quality, Research and Strategic Partnerships at peopleCare. “Opening a brand-new home takes an amazing amount of teamwork, and we couldn’t be prouder of how everyone pulled together. Now we’re focused on creating a wonderful new community for the residents and their families.”

The new home brings 160 much-needed long-term care beds to Tillsonburg and Oxford County, helping more local seniors get the care and support they need, closer to home. It will also help ease pressures on the local health system by providing another care option for people in hospital who no longer need acute care and are waiting for long-term care.

In the months leading up to opening, peopleCare recruited and trained a whole new team, prepared for pre-occupancy reviews and put all the pieces in place to safely open the home on schedule.

The team is now welcoming new residents at a rapid pace, at times up to five in a day, while making sure each person and their family receives the time, care and attention they deserve. From clinical care and care conferences to learning individual preferences and routines, recreation, laundry and all the details that help someone feel at home, the entire team is working together to make each move-in a positive experience. By early September, more than 200 people were already on the home’s waitlist.

Expanding long-term care in communities where the need is the greatest continues to be a major focus for peopleCare. Since 2022, we’ve opened five new or redeveloped long-term care homes in Meaford, Tavistock, Kitchener, Delhi and now Tillsonburg. Together, those developments have brought more than 750 new and redeveloped beds to Ontario seniors and their families. Our next two long-term care homes, in Stratford and Peterborough, are on track to open in 2027.

“We know how much these beds are needed, in Tillsonburg and in communities right across Ontario,” said Megan Allen-Lamb, President of peopleCare. “We’re proud to see our development plans becoming new homes for seniors and families, and we have lots more work underway.”

And that’s what made Tillsonburg’s move-in day so meaningful. What started as plans and drawings is now a home, filling up quickly with residents, families, laughter and life.

To our newest residents and families, thank you for placing your trust in us. We’re so happy to welcome you home.