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Ministry of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for Housing |
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CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON AYRE MANOR LODGE IN SOOKE |
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SOOKE – Representatives from BC Housing, the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the District of Sooke today celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society’s Ayre Manor Lodge, a new $16-million, 57-bed and unit elderly care development in Sooke.
“Sooke residents will soon have more options available in their community to support their long-term needs,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “These new residential care beds and assisted living units will create a campus of care, a unique model that allows people to stay in the same location even as their care needs change over time. They are part of the government’s commitment to build 5,000 new residential care beds, assisted living units and supportive housing units with home support by the end of by 2008.”
Ayre Manor Lodge will have 25 assisted living units and 32 residential care beds. The Province, through BC Housing, will provide ongoing subsidies for housing and hospitality for 10 of the assisted living suites, under the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program. Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) will provide annual funding for 30 of the 32 residential care units.
“Enhancing access to seniors’ care is a top
priority for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, particularly in communities
like Sooke that are growing and have an aging population,” said Jac Kreut, VIHA
board chair. “By working in partnership with the community, local government
and the Province, we are significantly increasing our community care capacity,
which will help reduce pressure on our hospitals, and the emergency departments
in particular.”
Once complete, Ayre Lodge will become a Campus of Care, a model that offers complex care, assisted living and independent housing all in one location. Campuses of care embrace the philosophy that individuals should age in one place – moving through a continuum of care as their needs change, without ever having to leave their home.
“Breaking ground for Ayre Manor Lodge today is very rewarding, as we’ve been providing support to the Society for this range of housing and care in Sooke,” said Sooke Mayor Janet Evans. “Finally Sooke will have a community of care, so that our seniors can continue to age in their own community.”
“The Capital Regional Hospital District is pleased to have assisted the Society by providing the recoverable development funding for this project and participating in the initiation and development of the plan and concept for Ayre Manor Lodge,” said Chris Clement of the Capital Hospital District.
The new assisted living units will provide residents with personal care, hot meals, housekeeping, laundry services, recreational opportunities and a 24-hour response system. The residential care component of the new facility will offer private rooms and provide 24/7 health-care services for individuals with complex care needs. The Sooke Elderly Senior Citizen’s Society currently operates 18 independent living cottages for seniors at the same location.
Ayre Manor Lodge will be operated by the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Society in partnership with Beckley Farm Lodge Society, an existing not-for-profit seniors’ care provider that operates Beckley Farm Lodge in Victoria. The facility will be operated under a service agreement with VIHA and BC Housing.
“With the support of our partners, we are so happy that this project is finally coming together,” said Bill Rumbsy, president of the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society. “This campus of care will meet the needs of seniors in the community, and it is a vision our society has been working towards for 40 years.”
In
January 2006, VIHA sought proposals from not-for-profit and private operators
to build and operate 1,230 residential care beds and assisted living units
throughout the health authority. This included approximately 930 additional
net-new beds and units by 2010 (727 of those to be completed by December 2008)
as well as flexibility for approximately 300 replacement beds in the future.
The Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Society submitted a successful proposal under this
RFP.
The Province of British Columbia, through ILBC, is committed to providing more than 4,000 affordable assisted living apartments for B.C. seniors and persons with disabilities. ILBC is an innovative housing-for-health partnership that meets the needs of lower-income seniors and people with disabilities by providing a middle option between home support and residential care. To date, more than 3,900 units have been allocated in communities across the province. The Province’s budget for affordable housing and shelters is $328 million – nearly triple what it was in 2001.
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contact: |
BC Housing 604 439-4757 604 375-1235 (cell)
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Vancouver Island Health Authority 250 370-8270
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Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society 250 642-6423
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District of Sooke 250 642-1634 250 415-6003 (cell)
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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