SUDBURY -- Extendicare is building a new, $60 million long-term care home in Greater Sudbury that will replace its current facility on Falconbridge Road.

The company announced Wednesday it is beginning construction of a facility that will be home to 256 residents.

Unlike Extendicare Falconbridge, which was built in 1973, the company said the new facility will be a modern building with state-of-the-art design standards to meet the current and future needs of seniors.

"All residents will have their own bedroom to ensure privacy and optimize infection control," Extendicare said in a news release.

Construction should be completed in 2022.

"This project is an example of the significant investments private sector operators make to modernize and expand long-term care capacity in the province," the release said. "In addition, the Government of Ontario will provide a grant of approximately $6 million upon completion of construction as well as ongoing capital funding to support the new home."

Dr. Michael Guerriere, president and CEO of Extendicare, said the company appreciates the "extraordinary" support they have received from the province.

About 300 jobs

"We also want to thank the City of Greater Sudbury for their commitment to our residents throughout the process,” Guerriere said. “This project will continue our nearly 50-year history of providing long-term care services in Sudbury and will advance the local economy with approximately 90 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs.”

This is Extendicare’s first long-term care development project in Ontario since building Extendicare Timmins and Extendicare Maple View (Sault Ste. Marie) in 2013 and is the next step toward the replacement of all of Extendicare’s older homes in the province.

“I am so grateful to the team at Extendicare for all of their hard work and for their dedication to this project," Herb Lee, a member of the residents council at Extendicare Falconbridge, said in the release. "I never thought I would get the joy of moving into a new home again at my age … I’m really looking forward to the self-contained resident home areas, single rooms and larger space for physiotherapy.”

Extendicare has submitted applications to the province to build more than 4,200 long-term care beds across the province that will replace aging infrastructure and help to address the waitlist of more than 38,500 Ontarians waiting for a long-term care bed.

“Resident-centred care is at the core of our government’s vision to modernize long-term care in Ontario, and this project is a perfect example of that plan in action,” Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, said in the release. “Getting shovels in the ground today means we are well on our way to continuing to provide exceptional care to our most vulnerable by building a comfortable, dignified place to live.”

Larger common areas

All of Extendicare’s new buildings will incorporate features that will reduce the spread of highly contagious illnesses like COVID-19, including single-resident rooms, updated HVAC systems and larger common areas to allow for physical distancing.

Extendicare is also addressing the impacts of the virus by regularly testing long-term care staff across Ontario, appointing a chief medical officer, establishing strong partnerships with local hospitals, and ensuring our homes have an ample supply of personal protective equipment.

“We strongly believe that modern homes built to state-of-the-art design standards are crucial to protect residents and provide them with the quality of care they need and deserve,” said Guerriere.

"We will continue to invest in the dedicated people and infrastructure necessary to provide the best possible care to Ontario’s seniors."