NORTH BAY -- After closing down due to management issues about two years ago, the Lady Isabelle Nursing Home in Trout Creek is expected to open under a new name in a few weeks.
The newly named Trout Creek Living Facility is likely to be an extension of Cassellholme Home of The Aged in North. The COVID-19 pandemic has slightly delayed the province's plans to reopen it.
"The Ministry of Long-Term Care seems to be very cautious with reopening the beds," said Chris Mayne, Cassellholme board chair. "They want to make sure we've got everything we need there to potentially handle COVID-19 cases if they do arrive."
It's expected the facility will be home to 50-60 residents and will hire between 60-80 staff. Powassan Mayor Peter McIsaac said some former employees have been contacted.
"We reached out to all the former employees and we told them we could possibly be re-hiring and at this time we had a number of them very interested in coming back," said McIsaac.
The eventual reopening will take pressure off North Bay Regional Health Centre, which has worked to accommodate residents since Lady Isabelle closed. McIsaac says the reopening will be good for the municipality.
"This is quite a huge economic impact for the town of Trout Creek and the Municipality of Powassan and the entire surrounding area," said McIsaac.
Inspections have been completed by various organizations and all is ready.
"The fire department has gone through and done the appropriate inspections," said Mayne. "The Ministry of Health has gone through to confirm that the standard of the equipment is appropriate."
Mayne says all that is required now is the official green light from the province.
