The Williams Government is further illustrating its
commitment to enhancing the long-term care system throughout the
province with the official opening of a new long-term care home in
Corner Brook. The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and
Labrador, officially opened the facility today, one of several
significant investments the Provincial Government is making in long-term
care.
Premier Williams was joined at the opening ceremony by
the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community
Services; the Honourable Tom Marshall, MHA for Humber East; Dr. Susan
Gillam, President and CEO of Western Health; and Corner Brook Mayor
Neville Greeley. The new facility will complement four protective
community residences which are already completed and occupied, which
represents a total investment of $68.5 million in long-term care in the
area.
"Providing access to quality care at every stage of
life is a priority for our government and we are continuing to make
strategic investments to enhance the health care system throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador," said Premier Williams. "This new model of
care, which includes a long-term care facility and Protective Community
Residences, has proven to be highly successful in helping to improve the
lives of residents and their families elsewhere. We are very proud to
officially open this new long-term care home in Corner Brook."
The 236-bed facility is a four-storey structure which
is fully equipped with resident care features, including ceiling track
lifts in a majority of the rooms where appropriate and a resident wander
guard system. The facility also features specialty program areas,
including a protective care unit and a behavioral care unit, as well as
a dedicated Veterans Affairs unit. The facility is also specifically
designed to maximize energy savings.
"The opening of this new long-term care facility in
Corner Brook is reflective of our overall major investment in long-term
care throughout the province," said Minister Kennedy. "The Williams
Government is committed to providing quality health care for all
residents of the province, and our announcement today is especially
noteworthy as June is Seniors Month. Seniors make an important
contribution to our society and I am pleased that our government
continues to support our seniors through investments like the new
long-term care facility in Corner Brook."
"Today represents the fulfillment of a dream of the
citizens of this area to provide a proper and modern facility for their
loved ones," said Minister Marshall. "I thank all those involved in this
project, especially Premier Williams, for making this dream a reality
when so many others promised it, but failed to deliver. Senior citizens
of the area will enjoy the benefits of this modern, state-of-the-art
facility which they so richly deserve."
In September 2009, the Provincial Government
officially cut the ribbon to open four new Protective Care Residences in
Corner Brook, which offer a new model of residential and community care
designed to promote independence and improve the quality of life of
individuals with mild to moderate dementia. Western Health received the
National Quality of Life Award last June from the Canadian College of
Health Service Executives in recognition of the positive impacts this
new model is having upon families, residents and staff.
"We are especially proud of these new investments in
long-term care," said Dr. Gillam. "The new long-term care facility and
the Protective Community Residences are not only state-of-the-art
facilities, but also incorporate best practice for seniors in terms of
design, layout, equipment and staffing models."
