Construction work on the new Mount Ida Mews residential care facility in Salmon Arm has begun.
“We’re all excited to get this development underway,” said Shuswap MLA George Abbott. “Another residential care facility in our community means more residents will get the care that they need closer to home and their loved ones.”
Mount Ida Mews is being built by inSite which won the contract for 71 new publicly funded beds in August following a request for proposals from Interior Health. InSite is also adding one private bed for a total of 72 new residential care beds. Construction begins this month; it is estimated the facility will be complete and open by November 2012.
“These new facilities support our commitment to provide for the needs of our aging population,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health’s board chair.
Mount Ida Mews has been designed to be as home-like as possible. The facility will consist of several smaller, self-contained ‘neighbourhoods’ of care connected by a ‘Main Street’ that features a range of amenities for residents such as a general store, library, hair salon and chapel. Each resident will have a private, locking room with a full ensuite.
“In addition to construction-related jobs, our new facility will provide about 75 full- and part-time jobs in a range of specialties going forward,” said Carole Holmes, inSite board chair.
“New residential facilities in our communities also help relieve pressure on our hospitals by ensuring the right patient is in the right bed, which frees up acute-care beds for those who need them most,” added Abbott.