Seniors will soon have improved access to home-style, long-term care, with construction underway on the new Dogwood Lodge in South Vancouver.

“With more space and the innovative-care model, the new 150-bed care home will help accommodate the growing seniors’ population and continue to offer quality care for seniors and people with disabilities in South Vancouver,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The start of construction of the new Dogwood Lodge is an important milestone for this unique residence that reflects the direction we are moving in for long-term care in B.C.”

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2023. Until construction of the new care home is finished, current Dogwood Lodge residents will continue to live in the existing 83-bed care home, which opened in 1979.

“The new Dogwood Lodge will be a place where residents will be able to enjoy all the privacy, comfort and benefit of living at home while still receiving exceptional care,” said Vivian Eliopoulos, interim president and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health. “We also look forward to supporting many more residents with this new model of care.”

The new six-storey Dogwood Lodge is designed to bring home-style living for 150 adults with complex care needs, including seniors. It is based on a model that is reflective of a traditional home. Each storey will consist of a “neighbourhood” of two homes where residents with similar care needs will have their own private bedrooms and bathrooms, and share living, dining, kitchen, patio and social spaces. Each home, which can accommodate 14 people, will be bright, inviting and close to staff and other supports.

The care home will include two homes that specialize in care for people with dementia and a 10-person home for people with tracheotomy and ventilator care needs. There will be an adult day program to provide health and social services to seniors living in the community.

“As a resident at Dogwood Lodge, I understand how meaningful the new facility is for seniors and other residents,” said Alex Konkin, a Dogwood Lodge resident since 2019. “I am excited for the transition toward more home-style living, and the opportunity to have some more privacy is important to me, especially as my needs change.”

This model of care, which reflects best practices, was developed over the course of several years in collaboration with stakeholder groups including the Dogwood Family Council, the City of Vancouver Seniors Advisory Committee and Vancouver Coastal Health staff.

Surrey-based Lark Projects Construction was selected to design and build the care home. The design-build contract value for the new long-term care home is $50.7 million.

Improving access to long-term care is part of the B.C. government’s commitment to strengthen the supports available to seniors. Since 2018-19, the Province has been investing about $1 billion over three years to improve care for seniors, including investments in primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living. This includes $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.