Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Selby’s Village Green announced plans to construct a new building in a new location that will house 128 beds, nearly doubling its resident capacity.
The OMNI Health Care owned long-term care residence was granted provincial approval last month to begin planning for its expansion. While the exact location of the new site won’t be announced until the new year, it won’t be on its current property but it will be staying within the boundaries of Greater Napanee.
“We’re thrilled that we’re going to be moving ahead with a 128 new bed home and the building of course is going to meet all the current government standards and it’ll have greater privacy and comfort for the residents, it’ll be enhanced with the infection control because we’re going to be eliminating four bed wards,” said Linda Pierce, Village Green’s administrator.
For the last 42 years the home has been located at 166 Pleasant Dr. in Selby. Its current capacity is 66 beds and is operated by 86 staff members. To help reduce the risk of COVID-19 they’ve eliminated four bed wards and is operating at reduced capacity.
“The (newly constructed) home’s also going to have four resident home areas, each with its own dinning and lounge space,” explains Pierce. “Currently OMNI, who owns Village Green, they’re in the early stages of working with an architect on concept plans and will be seeking some input from us, the residents’ families and staff before the final design is completed. It is a lengthy process in the development so it’s probably going to take a year or more before we even commence construction.”
The new site will also be close enough to town that it will be able to connect to municipal water lines. Right now the home is on septic and well water.
The additional 62 beds will also help fill a need in the community. Pierce says on average there are about 35 people waiting to be placed in the long-term care home and that number is only expected to climb.
“Our area is aging and we in the demographics have quite a percentage of people who are over 60,” said Pierce. “The dream for all of us is to want to stay in our home and the government has certainly helped in that area. But at some point if your condition happens to change and you do need 24/7 attention, then these long term care homes are certainly needed and we have great homes in our area. We’re so blessed to have such great people, the Parrott Centre, Friendly Manor, Northbrook and Village Green, we’ve been very fortunate to have such a great group of people to look after our seniors.”
Village Green’s new build was one of 29 long-care home upgrades that were granted approval by the Ontario government. All told the approval includes the creation of 1,968 new spaces while an additional 1,015 will be upgraded. The government says the new spaces will increase access to long-term care, reduce waitlists and ease hospital capacity pressures.