Work is underway for a $17.5 million redevelopment of a northern Ontario long-term care facility.
Construction officially kicked off on Monday to redevelop Algonquin Nursing Home in Mattawa.
The new facility will be next to the Mattawa Hospital, allowing greater access for patients and staff.
“This is something they've been wanting to do for five years. The home doesn't meet the facility standards for the residents,” said Jeremy Stevenson, Mattawa Hospital and Algonquin Nursing Home president.
The re-developed long-term care home will include physician and physiotherapy clinics; along with more privacy, an improved dining area, as well as hospital and hospice beds.
“Because it's attached to the hospital, we no longer have to transport people back and forth to the hospital by ambulance. They can just see their physician or the physician and then they can go right to their bedside if they wish to,” said Bob Simmonds, a Mattawa Hospital and Algonquin Nursing Home board member.
The new design has one to two beds a room; an upgrade from the original facility where it's four beds to a room.
Administrators told CTV fewer people sharing a room will lessen the chance of infections spreading.
“It will improve living conditions for the residents. It will improve working conditions for the staff, and not only that, it's a beautiful thing to happen to us,” said Ron Pellerin, Algonquin Nursing Home resident.
Stevenson said there is a wait list for the re-developed Algonquin Nursing Home and the facility will be ready for move-in by the fall of 2018.
