Plans for a new long-term care home in Barry’s Bay are continuing and some key people at Queen’s Park now know more about the challenges involved.
Ontario Long Term Care Minister Paul Calandra and Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski met with Valley Manor staff on Monday to hear about plans for the new Manor building that will be built next to the St. Francis Memorial Hospital.
Manor CEO Trisha DesLaurier used the meeting to express some challenges that come with building a long-term care home in a rural community.
DesLaurier says 10 per cent of a new long-term care home’s costs must come from fundraising. That poses a challenge in small communities where there’s few fundraising dollars.
“We were working with Minister Calandra and John Yakabuski to try to drive that point home that we need some different parameters here,” she says. “They heard us loud and clear. They said to keep ploughing forward and we’re doing great work. And the project will end up coming to the finish line.”
DesLaurier says the Manor’s development team is currently reviewing Infection Prevention and Control measures for the new building. There’s no firm timeline for when a groundbreaking ceremony will take place.