Additional Funding Announced for Gander Long-Term Care Facility

An investment of $100,000 by the Provincial Government will allow for parking lot upgrades at Lakeside Homes in Gander. The 128-bed facility provides residents with long-term nursing and protective care.

“This funding shows our government’s continued commitment to improving our health care infrastructure,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “We are making significant investments in new and existing long-term care facilities throughout the province to ensure access to essential health care services.”

This past July, the Provincial Government announced a $555,200 infrastructure investment in Lakeside Homes to provide new equipment, repairs and renovations to benefit the residents of the facility. This funding will purchase two resident mechanical lifts, a patient sit-to-stand lift, four patient floor lifts with powered positioning, three geriatric chairs, and two hygiene chairs. Upgrades will also be carried out to the emergency fire escape exits and to the flooring of the facility.

“This investment in Lakeside Homes is certainly welcomed by residents of the facility,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MHA for Gander. “Our government is continuing to show its support for Gander and I look forward to these additions to Lakeside Homes.”

Since 2003-04, health care investments in the Gander area have included $20 million in funding for capital equipment, repairs and renovations to the James Paton Memorial Health Centre and Lakeside Homes, in addition to the ongoing major redevelopment of the James Paton Memorial Health Centre valued at approximately $28 million.

“Of all the health services that are provided within the central region, long-term care comprises the largest portion,” said Karen McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, Central Health. “We know that the demand for services that are tailored to seniors is increasing as our population ages. That’s why we are very pleased whenever the Provincial Government makes investments in long-term care.”

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provided a total investment of $272.2 million for health care infrastructure throughout the province, which includes $200.6 million for new and continuing construction and redevelopment projects, $50 million for new equipment and $21.6 million for repairs and renovations.

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2011 08 31                                     1:10 p.m.