By Times Chronicle Staff
The number of long-term care beds in the South Okanagan will get a boost with the announcement of a new long-term care (LTC) residence with 200 beds.
The new facility will be located in Penticton with Interior Health awarding the project to Kaigo Senior Living an experienced developer and operator of long-term care services, according to the Ministry of Health. Kaigo Senior Living will design, build and operate the facility.
“As our communities grow, it is becoming more and more important that we be able to provide quality care to our seniors and anyone else with complex health needs,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen.
“The addition of this long-term care residence to Penticton ensures that people are cared for and supported as they age by compassionate health-care providers, and I know that it will serve our community well for many years to come.”
Detailed design is underway, with construction expected to begin in spring 2025 and complete in 2028. It will increase the overall number of publicly funded LTC beds in the Interior Health region from 495 to 605 since 2018.
The 200 new long-term care beds in Penticton are part of the government’s investment plan to add a total of 495 new long-term care beds within the Interior Health region to meet the needs of the growing seniors’ population. The remaining beds are planned for facilities in Kamloops, Kelowna and Nelson, as well as the 90 beds opened in Vernon in February 2024.
“Our government is expanding new long-term care homes around BC, building on our commitment to ensure people receive the highest-quality care in modern, safe facilities,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
Dix noted Kaigo’s track record on delivering quality long-term care services highlighting that the new facility will “significantly increase” people’s access to more LTC beds as the population ages.
Long-term care homes provide care to individuals with complex-care needs who can no longer live safely and independently at home. Long-term care homes provide 24-hour nursing care delivered by a team of well-trained, compassionate and caring staff, including allied health staff.
“This new long-term care home will be a place for people to live in a comfortable, home-like environment with all the amenities they need, close to their families and loved ones,” said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Senior Services and Long-Term Care.
“This is big news for people in Penticton and throughout the area and I’m thrilled our government is moving forward with this project.”
The government said it has invested approximately $3.5 billion to expand and improve the quality of care for seniors in BC as demand has continued to rise over the past five years. This funding includes improvements in primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living.
“Caring for our seniors is a responsibility we hold close to our hearts,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health.
“Increasing the number of long-term care beds in Penticton is about more than just addressing a need, it’s also about providing our elders with the respect and comfort they deserve,” she said.
