BACKGROUNDER
2008HSD0059-001351 Sept. 8, 2008	Ministry of Housing and Social Development Vancouver Island Health Authority
AYRE MANOR LODGE

Ayre Manor Lodge located at 6754 Ayre Road in Sooke, combines 25 one-bedroom assisted living apartments and 32 residential care beds into a campus of care within the same building, for a total of 57 new beds and units. 

 

Twenty of the 25 assisted living suites are subsidized through the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program. Eligible residents pay 70 per cent of their after-tax income for their units and services, which include weekly housekeeping and linen services, 24-hour response, personal care services, and social and recreational opportunities. The remaining five units will be market assisted living units.

 

Thirty of the 32 residential care beds are subsidized through Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). The other two residential care beds are private-pay hospice units. The units are built to current complex care guidelines, meaning they are single occupancy rooms with a private washroom.  VIHA also provides personal care for 10 of the assisted living units and personal care and hospitality services for the other 10 units under the ILBC program.

 

The three-storey building also has dining rooms, meeting rooms and courtyards. There are 18 pre-existing independent housing cottages on the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society property, which will bring the total number of beds in the campus of care to 75. Four levels of care are offered on-site: independent housing, assisted living, complex care and hospice.

 

 

Partnership Funding

 

Total capital cost of this project is $18,312,579

• The Province provided $15.12-million in interim construction financing.
• The Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society provided the land, valued at $2.89 million.
• The District of Sooke provided $180,824 in reduction of municipal levies and has waived property taxes since 1997.
• The Capital Regional District provided $22,959 in reduction of municipal levies as well as a $63,000 loan for project development funding.
• The Sooke School District also provided $35,796 in reduction of municipal levies.

Operational funding includes:

• The Province, providing housing and hospitality subsidies of up to $4,374,421 over 35 years.
• Vancouver Island Health Authority is providing annual funding of $2-million for the 30 residential care beds, $148,000 for 10 assisted living units and annual operational funding of up to $350,000 for personal care services.
• Beckley Farm Lodge will operate the facility on behalf of Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society.

 

Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society

Founded in 1968, the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society provides a range of housing and care options on the Ayre Manor property, primarily to allow the residents of the Sooke region to age in place, surrounded by friends and family. The society currently operates 18 independent living cottages for seniors at the same location

 

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Contact:	Rachel Nelken BC Housing 604 439-4183 604 505-8428 (cell)	Shannon Marshall Vancouver Island Health Authority 250 370-8270
	Jerry Van Ek Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society 250 642-5463

 

 

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