Building long-term care homes faster
The province has released its plan to build long-term care homes more efficiently
By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express
The provincial government has released a plan to create new long-term care homes (LTCH) faster, which could have positive results for Oshawa.
According to a press release from the province, the new Accelerated Build Pilot Program will see beds available in months as opposed to years.
The plan will see accelerating measures such as modular construction, rapid procurement, and the use of hospital lands in partnership with local hospitals.
While the plan will immediately be implemented in the building of two LTCHs in Mississauga in 2021, Durham’s Commissioner of Social Services Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou believes it will benefit the whole province.
“It sounds like a good plan, especially expediting them and having them ready by 2021 sounds incredible considering we’re already in July 2020,” she says.
In regards to Durham, she says she’s interested in the fact that it’s a partnership with the local hospitals.
“There’s a benefit to having this partnership. It sounds like this partnership agreement is something new, we don’t have anything like that in Durham because we own and operate our own homes,” she says.
She says she sees a benefit, as the costs might be less for the region if the project were to be implemented in Durham. She notes when there’s LTCHs attached to hospitals, there may be the possibility to use the facilities, and share services.
“There could be cost savings for both sides… and enhanced services for both the residents in the long-term care home, and I think something for the hospital patients as well,” she says.
Danos-Papaconstantinou reiterates while the plan may have immediate benefits for Mississauga, it will benefit the rest of the province, including Durham Region.
“We have to look at the risks and challenges with a partnership like this, but I certainly see some opportunities if we could sit down with a hospital partner and move a project like this forward,” she says.
She also hopes the project, which is a pilot project, will be able to help the province and municipalities learn better design standards.
“It’s been a long time coming, and it’s great to see that there’s a real focus on our long-term care homes and the residents in them,” she says.