Representatives from the Province, Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), Retirement Concepts, BC Housing and the Municipalities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland gathered together with residents and staff at Comox Valley Seniors Village to celebrate the grand opening.
“Seniors today are living healthier, longer lives, and this campus of care fills an important need in our community,” said Don McRae, MLA for Comox Valley. “The Province is committed to enriching the lives of seniors by supporting their independence through a full range of affordable housing options.”
With residential care beds and assisted living units located on one campus, seniors can age in one place, staying in the same location even as their care needs change over time.
“Enhancing access to seniors care is a top priority for the Vancouver Island Health Authority,” said Jac Kreut, VIHA board chair. “Projects such as this enable seniors to continue to enjoy a high quality of life in the community they call home.”
The residential care component of the new Comox Valley Seniors Village offers private rooms and provides 24/7 health care services for individuals with complex care needs. The assisted living units are self-contained apartments where residents may receive meals, housekeeping and laundry services, a 24-hour response system and assistance with care needs.
VIHA publicly funds 90 residential care beds at $6.7 million annually. The Province and VIHA are jointly funding 60 assisted living units with VIHA providing $599,400 annually and the Province, under the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program, providing $365,040 annually. ILBC is an innovative housing-for-health program that meets the needs of lower-income seniors and people with disabilities by providing a middle option between home support and residential care.
The contract to build and operate the facility, which also includes 46 private-pay residential care beds, was awarded to Retirement Concepts in July 2006. The company is well established in B.C. and currently owns and operates 11 residential care facilities and seven assisted living units in the province. As a service provider, Retirement Concepts is committed to providing quality care and support to Comox Valley Seniors Village residents in long-term care and assisted living settings.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer the first, full service campus of care to seniors in the Comox Valley,” said Azim Jamal, President and CEO, Retirement Concepts. “This new state-of-the-art seniors care campus allows our residents to benefit from a range of services we can provide based on their changing needs.”
In 2008, the provincial government met its commitment to provide 5,000 net new residential care beds, assisted living units supportive housing and home support. The Province has opened 6,314 additional new beds and units across B.C. since 2001. In total, 13,623 new and replacement beds and units have opened, replacing many that were old and unsuitable for use.
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Contact:
Val Wilson
VIHA Communications
250-739-6303
Rhonda Nguyen
BC Housing
604-439-4740
Elaine Wright
General Manager, Comox Valley Seniors Village
250-331-1183