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Ministry of Housing and Social Development |
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$18-MILLION
CAMPUS OF CARE OPENS IN SOOKE |
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SOOKE – The Province and community partners are providing Sooke seniors with access to more housing options with the opening of Ayre Manor Lodge, a new $18-million campus of care combining 25 assisted living apartments and 32 residential care beds.
“Our government is committed to providing a range of housing options to accommodate all the levels of care seniors require,” said Health Services Minister George Abbott. “Ayre Manor Lodge offers a campus of care that will allow seniors to remain in their homes and community as their care needs change.”
Ayre Manor Lodge provides a campus of care model that offers independent housing, assisted living and complex care all in one location. Campuses of care embrace the philosophy that seniors should be able to age in one place.
“Being part of a momentous project like Ayre Manor Lodge is very rewarding,” said Sooke Mayor Janet Evans. “I am thrilled that Sooke seniors now have a campus of care that will give them the opportunity to remain in their community.”
The Province, through BC Housing, is providing ongoing subsidies for housing and hospitality for 10 of the assisted living suites and a rent supplement housing subsidy for another 10 of the assisted living units under the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) is providing annual funding for 30 of the residential care units. VIHA is also providing personal care services for twenty assisted living units (ten of which also receive hospitality services and rent subsidies) under ILBC. The Capital Regional District (CRD) provided municipal reduction levies and project development funding.
“For communities like Sooke with a growing
seniors population, enhancing access to multiple levels of care options is a
top priority,” said VIHA board chair Jack Kreut. “This modern new facility has
significantly increased our care capacity and is enabling safe, affordable
living for Sooke seniors, with the right supports in place.”
“We believe the development of affordable housing is essential for the well-being of people and communities,” said CRD board director Dean Fortin. “Ayre Manor Lodge embodies this mission by providing varying levels of care under one roof, allowing residents to remain in their community as they age.”
The new assisted living units 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 offers private rooms and provides health care services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society currently operates 18 independent housing cottages for seniors at the same location.
The development is operated by the
Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society (SECHS) in partnership with Beckley Farm Lodge Society, a not-for-profit seniors’ care provider that also
operates Beckley Farm Lodge in
“Our mandate is to provide seniors with affordable housing options,” said SECHS board chair Jerry Van Ek. “With the support of our partners, our society has realized a vision it has been working towards for 40 years, to meet the needs of seniors in the community.”
These new units are part of the
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Contact: |
Rachel Nelken BC Housing 604 439-4183 604 505-8428 (cell) |
Shannon Marshall 250 370-8270 |
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Jerry Van Ek 250 642-5463 |
Mayor Janet Evans District of Sooke 250 415-6003 (cell) |
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Dean Fortin Capital Regional District 250 217-9273 (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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