People in the Comox Valley will soon have access to a new long-term care facility that will provide 126 publicly-funded long-term and hospice care beds.

“British Columbians deserve to know that high-quality, compassionate long-term and end-of-life care is available when they or their loved ones need it,” said Premier John Horgan. “After years of cuts to services, we’re working to make sure seniors and adults with complex health conditions are supported and treated with dignity and respect. This investment will mean better care for seniors in the Comox Valley.”

Ocean Front Village will have 120 long-term care beds and two new hospice beds, as well as four existing hospice beds that will move to the new facility from The Views at St. Joseph’s. Golden Life Management Corp., which was the successful proponent of a request for proposal process, will build and operate the new long-term care home. Island Health will provide annual operational funding. The care home will cost $28.2 million to build and is expected to be complete in spring of 2021.

The B.C. government is investing more than $1 billion over three years to improve care for seniors, including investments in primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living.

As part of this commitment, the Province is investing $75 million over three years to expand respite and adult day services, and $240 million over three years to increase staffing levels in long-term care homes, with the goal of achieving 3.36 hours per resident day on average across all health authorities by the end of 2020-21.

“Our government is committed to improving long-term care for people around B.C., and we are working with community partners to make sure this happens,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This new long-term care home will provide responsive care for people in Comox Valley living with dementia and complex health issues, as well as compassionate end-of-life care.”

Government has approved 13 major health capital projects, meaning people in all areas of B.C. will be getting new or upgraded health-care facilities. Twelve urgent and primary care centres have been announced throughout the province and are providing care to people when and where they need it. The B.C. Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy launched in March 2018 and performed 233,369 MRI exams provincewide through the strategy’s first year.

Quotes:

Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox –

“This project will help us meet the growing demand for long-term care in our community and give seniors and their loved ones the care and support they need, close to home.”

Anne Kang, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors –

“The new Ocean Front Village will help seniors in the Comox Valley find long-term care, and I thank all of the community partners who made this care home a reality.”    

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

“Island Health is very pleased to be moving ahead with this project in partnership with Golden Life Management Corp. This long-term care home will provide residents of the Comox Valley with the care and quality of life they want and deserve.”

Celeste Mullin, vice-president, Golden Life –

“We are excited to work with Island Health, Comox Valley Hospice Society, the City of Courtenay and the community at large to make Ocean Front Village the hub of seniors housing, care and services in the Comox Valley. Our centrally located waterfront village is designed to inspire both staff and residents, while focusing on opportunities to enhance community programs and integration. We believe quality of life is enhanced when people are treated with dignity, respect and afforded every opportunity to fully participate in decisions that affect their lives. As a British Columbia-based family business, we are proud of our roots and excited to provide the quality of care for the Comox Valley that we have provided for our own family and loved ones.”

Quick Facts:

• Golden Life Management Corp. is a Canadian company that owns and operates a number of seniors’ housing and care homes in B.C. and Alberta.
• Ground has broken on construction of Ocean Front Village, located at Cliffe Avenue and 29th Street. 
• Island Health is also working with Providence Residential and Community Care Society on a proposal to develop a campus of care for seniors at the Views, located at the former St. Joseph’s Hospital site in Comox.
• It’s anticipated that the proposed re-development would include up to 155 long-term care and respite beds, replacing the existing long-term care and respite beds at The Views, adding further dementia-care capacity to the Comox Valley.