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Life in Long Term Care

A New Chapter for Seniors’ Care: Extendicare Breaks Ground in St. Catharines

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A modern 256-bed long-term care home will enhance quality of life and expand capacity in the Niagara region

Location: St. Catherines, ON

A new chapter for Extendicare St. Catharines has begun with the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new, 256-bed long-term care home in the Niagara region.

“The residents are out of this world with happiness,” said Barbara, a member of the Resident’s Council.

Barbara shared her excitement as a speaker at the celebration on November 18, 2024, alongside Extendicare leaders, government officials from the municipality and province, and Niagara Health System partners.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks our seventh redevelopment project and the latest step in our plans to redevelop all our older homes to modern design standards to improve quality of life for our residents,” said Dr. Michael Guerriere, Extendicare President and CEO. “When the doors open, this 256-bed home will increase capacity for high-quality seniors’ care in the region by welcoming more than 100 new residents who are currently awaiting long-term care. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for its historic support and to the City of St. Catharines for its ongoing partnership.”

“The number of people in Niagara who will require long-term care is expected to rise over the next decade. Today’s groundbreaking in Niagara West will help ensure we have safe, modern spaces ready for them”, said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West and Associate Minister of Energy Intensive Industries in a news release.

Tyler Allsopp, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care and MPP of the Bay of Quinte, and Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines also joined the ceremonial groundbreaking.

The energy of the day was captured by several local media outlets, including the St. Catharines Standard, NewsTalk 610, ThornholdToday, Niagara on the Lake Local, The River, and Ontario Construction News.

Extendicare’s modern and larger long-term care home for seniors in St. Catharines

When construction is complete in 2027, the new home will be built to modern design standards to improve quality of life for residents. There will be two Resident Home Areas on each of the four floors. RHAs are designed to create a more intimate and familiar living space for up to 32 residents with dining and activity areas, and lounges. The home will offer specialized support including a Designated Memory Care Community.

“We are very excited to break ground on a new home here in St. Catharines,” said Helen Van Dyk, Home Administrator at Extendicare St. Catharines. “Extendicare’s commitment here will help to build system capacity with an increased quality of life for our residents and our teams through new design and space. Our resident community will grow, our care teams will grow and so will our ability to care for others. It really is a wonderful thing.”

“I think a new building is needed and will be nice for our community – everyone will have their own room, and the space will be really comfortable – I like where I am now, but this also sounds just lovely,” added Barbara.

“Long-term care communities like St. Catharines Extendicare are really important to families like mine and a new home construction is very exciting,” said Gavin, a resident family member at St. Catharines Extendicare. “Having places to be together and spend quality time with the family is important to us. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.”

For more information about Extendicare’s plan to redevelop all of their older homes across their network, go to extendicare.com/building-for-the-future.