The Ontario government is building a long-term care home in Kapuskasing, and three in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville. This is part of the government's $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
AgenParl states that they will be adding 68 new and 60 upgraded beds in the new long-term care home for Extendicare Kapuskasing.
"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. This home in Kapuskasing is an example of the action our government is taking to support the Francophone community with care that is tailored to their cultural and linguistic needs. When this new building is completed, 128 residents will have a new place to call home, near their family and friends."
Minister of Long-Term Care | Paul Calandra
The new building for Extendicare Kapuskasing will include the following:
- Besides the 68 new and 60 upgraded long-term care beds, there will be 32 designated beds for Francophone residents.
- Services for mental health
- Services for behavioural support
- Palliative care services
- Will continue to offer cultural, linguistic and religious services for Francophones
Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2023 and be ready for residents in the spring of 2025.
Ontario News reports that Ontario plans to invest an additional $300,000, beginning in 2022-23, to help make long-term care services and programs more accessible to Francophone residents. This includes $250,000 to the Regional Translation Network Program and $25,000 to both the Ontario Association of Resident Councils (OARC) and Family Councils Ontario (FCO). The funding will support the development of educational sessions and materials in French for programs and services.
The Extendicare Kapuskasing long-term care home is a designated agency under the French language Services Act. This means the home has met the designation requirements and demonstrated capacity to provide part of its services or programs in French to residents.
As of today, Ontario now has 26,021 new and 21,661 upgraded beds in the development pipeline, which means that more than 86 percent of the 30,000 new beds being delivered are in the planning, construction and opening stages of the development process.
The government has a plan to fix long-term care and to ensure Ontario's seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need now and in the future. The plan is built on three pillars:
- Staffing and care
- Accountability, enforcement and transparency
- Building modern, safe, comfortable homes for seniors
CP24 News states that the three new long-term care homes in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville will provide 800 additional beds for seniors in need.
The three homes will be Mon Sheong Markham, Mon Sheong LTC in Whitchurch-Stouffville and Lang Yi Markham. The homes are expected to provide cultural services to residents of the Chinese, Filipino and East Asian communities.
Construction is expected to start between the summer of 2023 and the summer of 2024.
With these new homes in the pipeline, there are now a total of 1,568 new and 32 upgraded long-term care beds in development, under construction or completed in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Also, in the Hamilton-Niagara region, the ministry recently announced that it is adding 387 new and 645 upgraded long-term care beds to modernize and expand six long-term care homes.
The government, to date, has fulfilled over 86 percent of their 30,000 new bed target and these beds are in the planning, construction or opening stages of the development process.
