A 200-bed long-term care village based on a unique model of care will be built in Prince George, came the announcement by the Ministry of Health last November.
Groundbreaking at 6500 Southridge Ave., in College Heights, is slated for the spring of 2025, with up to two years earmarked for construction.
As the demand for long-term care increases in Prince George the new build features were recently revealed as an innovative model for seniors’ long-term care, currently being piloted at other facilities down south.
Providence Living, which is partnering with the Ministry of Health and Northern Health on the Prince George build, is leading these pilot projects.
“The new care model cultivates a thriving long-term care community within which there is no separation between staff, residents and families,” said Mark Blandford, president and CEO of Providence Living.
The two pilot resident households were created at The Views at St. Joseph’s in Comox in a rural setting and Youville Residence in Vancouver in an urban setting.
Testing and refining households that see a dozen people sharing a homelike space follows the made-in-BC care model using global best practices based on the concepts of a dementia village.
While the exact design and functionality details of the Prince George long-term care build won't be fully known until after the developmental process is complete, it will draw inspiration from a brand-new long-term care village, Providence Living at The Views, which opens this summer in Comox. The Comox village will feature private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, household-style communal spaces, and an overarching commitment to person-centred care.
The pilot households serve as practical training platforms for staff in applying this groundbreaking care approach, benefiting from their ongoing input as well as that from residents and families.
Person-centred sees the model shifting from institutional approach to social relational and resident and family-centred approach, recognizing that aging adults flourish when they maintain their independence and social connections while participating in meaningful personal routines.
Long-term care routines that are largely influenced by institutional norms like scheduled wake-up and meal times will be changed to more flexible routines where the pace of the day is determined by the residents, just like most people decide how they want to spend their days.
Gone is the requirement for residents to be up and dressed for their 9 a.m. breakfasts. Each resident sets the flow of their day, whether that means sleeping in or taking a stroll in the garden with friends while being assisted by a compassionate team of staff.
Residents continue to receive excellent medical and nursing care. The only difference is in how that medical and nursing care is organized and delivered.
Instead of coming to work and reporting at a facility like a hospital, staff honour the concept of home and understand that they work in the residents’ home. Routines are adjusted to meet residents’ needs. Residents’ quality of life takes precedence over organizational and staff priorities.
Decisions are made with residents instead of for residents.
For more information about Providence Living at The Views is available at providenceliving.ca/attheviews.
