Seniors in the Cowichan Valley will soon have improved access to long-term care with the addition of 80 new publicly funded beds in the community. Construction on The Hamlets at Duncan is underway. The Hamlets, to be owned and operated by H&H Total Care Services Inc., will also include eight private pay long-term care beds and 55 private pay independent or assisted living units.
Located near the intersection of York Road and Beverly Street, The Hamlets at Duncan will provide seniors with 24-hour complex care in a safe, secure, home-like setting.
“As our population ages, government is committed to ensuring that British Columbia seniors requiring complex care are able to easily receive access to these types of services,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This new long-term care home in the Cowichan Valley is just one of the ways Vancouver Island communities are benefiting from our plan to improve seniors’ care.”
“I am well aware of the challenges that we are facing, one of which is an aging population that is in need of accessible, stable, and affordable care,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan who attended the event on behalf of Dix. “I am happy to be part of a government that is making investments to ensure seniors in the Cowichan Valley, and throughout B.C., receive access to the services they need and deserve. Our seniors have helped build and shape our community and they deserve to live their final days with dignity and respect.”
The Hamlets at Duncan is being built using a neighbourhood design. Resident rooms will be grouped in five neighbourhoods of 18 beds. Each neighbourhood will feature its own spa/bathing area and ensuite bathroom that includes a sink, toilet and wheelchair-accessible shower.
Annual operating costs for this facility are $5.3 million per year from the Province, through Island Health.
“Island Health is pleased to be working with H&H Total Care Services Inc. to bring this beautiful new long-term care home to Duncan,” said Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health. “By adding 80 new publicly funded long-term care beds to the Cowichan Valley, we are improving access to community-based facility care for seniors, meeting the needs of our complex care clients, and reducing pressure on the Cowichan District Hospital.”
For more than 25 years, H&H Total Care Services Inc. has been a leader in creating seniors’ living communities with “Hamlets” in British Columbia and Alberta. “Hamlets” communities serve people with a variety of care needs including seniors, dementia care and patients with acquired brain injuries.
“We are excited to be well underway in the construction of this long-term care home,” said Andre Van Ryk, CEO/CFO, H&H Total Care Services Inc. “In partnership with Island Health, we have designed a care home that meets the needs of Cowichan Valley seniors - we look forward to The Hamlets at Duncan contributing to the community in a meaningful and positive way.”
“As a long-time resident of the Cowichan Valley, I am delighted that seniors in my community are being provided with more access to quality complex care close to home,” said Linda Zabok, Island Health Patient Partner.
This announcement supports recent investments by the provincial government announced as part of a $240-million, three-year plan to increase the direct care seniors receive in long-term care homes in communities and throughout the province – to reach the target 3.36 care hours per-resident day, on average, across health authorities, by 2021.
As part of this, more than $6.4 million is being invested in care hours on Vancouver Island in the first year of the strategy. As well, 7,400 more adult day program spaces are being added on Vancouver Island as part of the Province’s investment of $75 million over the next three years to expand respite care and adult day programs.
Cowichan/South Island media inquiries:
Cheryl Bloxham
250-370-8878
Cheryl.bloxham@islandhealth.ca