Revera Summit Place is looking to build a new replacement long-term care home in Owen Sound.
Revera Director of Communications Larry Roberts says Summit Place is nearly 50-years-old and upgrades are needed to meet ministry standards, as well as for the safety and comfort of the residents and better working conditions for the staff.
Roberts says Revera will be looking for a new piece of land to build a new facility from scratch.
“We will be working with MPP Bill Walker’s office and also with Mayor Ian Boddy and the City of Owen Sound to find the right location for a new home,” says Roberts.
Roberts says once they find the piece of land they wish to build on, they will still need to go through the approvals process.
“It generally takes up to about five years before we will be able to open the new home, between acquiring land and doing all the design work, approvals and construction,” says Roberts.
Roberts says the new building will feature brighter windows, wider hallways, and wider doors to accommodate mobility needs.
Roberts adds the surfaces will be better for cleaning, giving an edge in infection prevention and control.
“There is no sharing washrooms at the end of a hallway, which is also better for safety and infection control purposes and even the shared rooms have a really good private aspect to them as well so it is better for the residents in terms of their privacy. It is better for the staff, all the instruments are at high heights and not bending down to put plugs in. The whole thing is designed to be better for break spaces for staff as well,” says Roberts.
He says 60 per cent of the rooms at the new facility will be private, and the other 40 per cent will be two-person rooms.
Nine new and 119 upgraded long-term care beds recently announced, will be used in the new facility.
Roberts adds Revera does not have expected project costs right now, but estimates the new facility will cost in the tens of millions.
