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Health and Community Services
September 21, 2009

Protective Community Residences Officially Open in Corner Brook

Four new Protective Community Residences designed to accommodate individuals with various forms of dementia were officially opened in Corner Brook today. The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA for Humber West, officially cut the ribbon on the new residences along with Tony Genge, Board Chair of Western Health, and Charles Pender, Mayor of Corner Brook.

�These new residences are the first of their kind providing this service in Eastern Canada and are designed to promote independence, dignity and improved quality of life for residents,� said Premier Williams. �This is one step in our commitment to upgrade and modernize long-term care homes across the province � a commitment which has seen an investment of over $110 million. I have heard story after story of how happy and comfortable residents are in their new homes, and I am delighted to see the facilities first hand today.�

The Provincial Government invested $68.5 million to construct the residences as well as a 236-bed long-term care home at a separate site in Corner Brook which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010.

�We all want the best quality of life for our families, our friends and ourselves,� said Minister Oram. �One important factor in quality of life is living as independently as possible with the appropriate level of supports. That is the driving vision behind these residences.�

Each residence can accommodate 10 residents with mild to moderate dementia, with potential accommodation of 40 residents in total. The residences have the look and feel of a home-like environment and are arranged to encourage residents to carry on normal household routines. They were designed based on a model of care that has proven to be very successful in Alberta and British Columbia.

�The impact of this new physical and psychosocial model upon the lives of the residents and their families has been remarkable,� said Tony Genge. �It is our belief that this new model of care for Western Health and the province as a whole will result in improved quality of life for the people that we serve.�

�It is important as a society that we support older adults and their right to make choices about their future,� said Charles Pender. �The opening of this facility provides yet another option for older adults to live independently in a safe, secure and supervised environment. I am delighted that the Provincial Government and the community worked together to make this project a reality as it will certainly help fulfill a very specific community need.�

To be considered for the residences, individuals must meet established criteria to ensure there is a good fit between the resident and this care option.

This initiative is a part of the Provincial Government�s commitment to update long-term care homes across the province. Over $110 million has been invested in the construction of three new long-term care homes in Clarenville, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which are all in various stages of completion. New long-term care homes are also planned for Lewisporte, Carbonear and St. John�s.

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Media contacts:

Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Andrea Nolan
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 727-0991
andreanolan@gov.nl.ca
Ronalda Walsh
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
ronaldawalsh@gov.nl.ca
Heidi Steaben Simmons
Director of Communications
Western Health
709-637-5252
heidisteabensimmons@westernhealth.nl.ca
Marina Redmond
City of Corner Brook
637-1534
 

2009 09 21                            2:45 p.m.

 


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