It’s a significant day for long-term care in Delta.
On Thursday afternoon, the provincial government announced funding for a new long-term care facility on the Delta Hospital Campus of Care.
Fraser Health will construct and operate the long-term care community on vacant land at the hopsital site. The project is in the procurement phase with construction expected to begin in 2025 and be complete in 2027. During the design phase, First Nations will partner with Fraser Health to design a culturally safe care home.
The new care homes will replace the 92 beds at Mountain View Manor, which is 46 years old, and add 108 new beds. The facility will be designed as “households” accommodating 12 or 13 residents. Each resident will have a single-bed room with a bathroom.
The new facility will include the social and recreational spaces found in a typical home, such as a living room, dining room, activity space and access to the outdoors. As well, an innovative stand-alone child daycare facility will be constructed and offer 49 spaces for families.
There will also be community spaces and services for residents, families, visitors and staff, including art and activity rooms, a hair salon, a sacred space and a 32-space adult day program for people living more independently.
The capital costs are funded with $179.7 million from the Ministry of Health. The care community will be constructed, owned and operated by Fraser Health. The Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation has committed to raise $18.5 million for the project.
“Ensuring seniors across B.C. have confidence that when they age, they will receive care services that will allow them to stay healthy, active and safe in their community is a priority for our government,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “That’s why we continue to take meaningful action and invest in care homes, like the one in Delta, to ensure people have access to home-like care in the community.”
Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee said partnerships are “key” to getting this project off the ground.
“Through partnerships with the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, as well as Indigenous, community and provincial stakeholders, we are taking significant strides to enhance the well-being of our aging population. This endeavour not only reflects our steadfast dedication to delivering exceptional care services, but also fosters healthy intergenerational connections within our community,” she said.
Delta North MLA and Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon said long-term care should be a home away from home - and that’s exactly what this investment is about.
“We’re making sure seniors in Delta have access to the right care and services in spaces designed for them, close to their loved ones,” he said.
Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation executive director Lisa Hoglund called it a “very exciting day.”
“Delta’s seniors are the very heart of our community,” she said. “Their hard work and generous spirit have made Delta what it is today. Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation is honoured to be partnering with Fraser Health to deliver a state-of-the-art long-term care community. This will be extremely meaningful for our community as we partner to transform seniors’ care in Delta.”
Mayor George Harvie paid thanks to the Hospital Foundation, Hospital Auxiliary, MLAs Kahlon and Ian Paton as well as the incredible staff at Delta Hospital.
“We needed this facility and I’m so happy to see that we will have more options for our Deltans where they don’t have to leave our wonderful community,” he said. “Pam [Paton] and Lisa [Hoglund] and your board and foundation have done tremendous work.”
Harvie also pointed out in 2000 when the provincial government of the day tried to close Delta Hospital.
“The community rose up. The community stopped it and made the provincial government of the day change,” he said. “Look at it [Delta Hospital now]. But we can’t stop here. Once this project is over we expect to do more projects to keep this hospital the strength that it is in our community and to ensure it’s viable to all Deltans.”
Paton said he was proud of this day as the ties to the hospital and this project not only run deep politically, but within his family too.
“My dad goes back to the late 60s with a group of guys who said we need a hospital, so he was one of the original group. My mom, who is 95-years-old still volunteers at the hospital thrift shop, my wife Pam is chair of the Hospital Foundation, so this is very family-oriented initiative that we have here. We are very close to this hospital,” he said. “As the official opposition I feel I have done my part in challenging Minister Dix for three or four years now to say where is the money and get this project happening. I’m glad today is the day they have finally come through.”
