A grand opening was held Friday for 26 new beds at Gateway Lodge.
Located on the third floor, the new beds include 11 convalescent care and respite beds and 15 complex care beds.
Convalescent care and respite beds provide short term relief for people with illness or those recovering from illness who would otherwise be admitted to hospital.
The complex care beds are available for people who can no longer safely or independently live at home or in an assisted living residence due to their complex care needs.
The renovations cost about $1.2 million, with 60 per cent provided by the province of B.C. through Northern Health, and 40 per cent by the Fraser Fort George Regional Hospital District.
"We continue to work to meet the needs of seniors and adults in northern B.C. that have a variety of care needs," said Northern Health board chair Charles Jago in a press release.
"Opening the new beds at Gateway will help with the types of care needed as our population ages; something we heard is important to seniors' during our 2014 public consultation on healthy aging and seniors' wellness."
The assisted living unit now has 50 beds, while the residential care unit has 109 long term care beds and 11 respite/convalescent beds.
